So again, these are personal reflections on the Book of John.
“There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:6-13
I’m going to keep this short, since my last one was kind of long. First, about being sent, I think every Christian should identify with John. If you follow Christ, then you have this Light of Life within you. Your life should be a testament to God, so that all might believe through you.
Not everyone will believe. I mean, if they didn’t believe Jesus, who IS God, then you can’t expect them to believe you. But you still have to be there for those who will believe.
I think being sent is less of an exclusive thing than a lot of church people think. I’ve heard a lot of people say that missionaries are sent, but normal people just do their thing. I think that we can have a mentality of being sent, i.e. a mindset that is always on the lookout for opportunities where we can help people and spread the Light of Jesus Christ.
No matter what choices have led you to where you are now, God has a purpose for you. Whether or not you notice is largely up to you.
One of the most tragic consequences of sin and selfishness is that it distracts us. Have you ever been driving, and then you all of a sudden ‘wake up’ and realize, “Whoa, I don’t even remember driving that last mile or two!” I think sin is the same way. When we sin, it clouds our minds, and even though God is still working in our lives, our ability to notice it can be obscured.
The second part of these verses could be a great catalyst for a discussion about predestination VS free will, but I’m not going to go there because I don’t believe it’s one or the other. I think it’s both. When I look forward, all I see are choices, but when I look into the past, I see how God’s hand has guided me.
What I like more about the verses is the emphasis on being sons of God, and how that occurs. You receive Him, and believe in His name. Simple. No works save you – you just believe.
Of course, the Bible mentions in other places that good works should be the natural result of accepting Christ, but no works are ever set up as a means to salvation. Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Christianity the only religion in which man cannot save himself? What I mean is, in Christianity, salvation isn’t about what you do, it’s about what was already done for you, and who you choose to be in response to that. But in other religions, it’s about trying to be a good person, or saying certain prayers so many times, or visiting certain holy sites. You have to do this or do that, and even then, most of the time your fate isn’t assured unless you go to an extreme (death while killing infidels, etc.). I once heard someone say that Mohammed, on his death bed, said that he did not know what would become of him when he died.
Humans have this epic sense of needing to atone. It’s pride, really. Let me make it up to you. We want power over our mistakes. Instead, you just have to give it up, and say, “Please fix me, my life, my situation… I wish I could take this back, but I can’t. I need help.”
Jesus likes to help people.
