...repent...

17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God”  John 3:17-21.

Here we face one of the great challenges to John’s Gospel:  God loves and God judges.  Simply put we see in John’s Gospel that “God so loved the world that He sent His only Son into the world” John 3:16, and we also see that “Jesus came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind’”  John 9:39.   

The question, then, is this: Who is God?   How do we reconcile these two apparently different views of God?   The answer lies in our own personal reactions to God.   

I had a dear friend many years ago who owned a very old, original Austin Mini, a British automobile full of rust and years of decay.   But my friend was a great mechanic who had this old car purring and running swiftly — even through the snow!   But when you saw the car you thought it was a terrible old piece of junk, and you would dismiss the car as nothing of interest or significance or beauty — to you.   You passed judgement on that car and your view of the “rust bucket” had become only a judgement.

This happens too when we go to the museum to see a special exhibit of Pablo Picasso’s expressionistic paintings and drawings.   With beautiful colors and magical suggestions, even exaggerations, we witness a sophisticated Master who created a plethora of masterpieces that have appreciated in taste and value over the decades.  But what if you stood in front of these masterpieces and concluded that they were nothing more than childish scribbles that looked ugly and amateurish at best.   Your reaction is a personal judgment when you turned and left the exhibit, dismissing it as having no value.  You see no beauty or magic in Picasso’s work because you have a blind spot in your soul for modern, expressionistic art.   You conclude that Picasso is a sham!

This is how it is with Jesus as both lover and judge.   Like many others who have met Jesus, heard His voice, tasted His majesty, and despite their sinful choices throughout life, they still believe in Him and are on the road of salvation because they love Jesus.  But what if you have met Jesus and seen His presence and heard His voice but you have concluded that He is at best a good man — but certainly no God.   A prophet perhaps, but not the Creator and Savior of the world.   You look around at the world you have experienced and you see nothing to suggest the presence of a loving, real God.   Your reaction is your own judgement.   You have condemned yourself.  God sent His Son to love you and to save you, but your reaction to Jesus has become a condemnation.   You have made your own judgement.   As John says in our text above, such a person has chosen not to believe in the Son of God because they love the darkness, not the light. When you look at such a person, you see yourself and you see that you have condemned yourself.  So you have become quite outspoken when faced with the truth about who you have become and you have acquired a taste for your “story” that supports your choices, a series of plausible explanations about your position.   You feel justified by your own thinking.  You don’t like it when the light is shined on you, so you cleverly hide yourself in the shadows where you have become comfortable with your life.

But we are all the same.  Our choices reveal who we really have become.

We routinely and very quickly open our hearts for all to see.   But we fool no one, especially God.  And God who sent His Son has now become your judge.   But you have no one to blame but yourself.   Don’t blame God! 

Please pray to God today and think deeply about who you have become in the presence of a loving God.  Pray that you will no longer step back from God, but instead open your arms and heart to Jesus whom God sent to love you and save you.  Pray honestly and ask God to open your heart to His presence.  Repent.

Dear Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Please help me come to You completely, to love You and honor You and obey You every day of my life.   I love You and wish only to be faithful to You and to love others as You do.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.