A few years ago I started eating some pre-packaged meals that I thought were good for me. But, one day a friend made a passing comment about the amount of sodium in those meals. I had not thought about checking out the nutritional content of the meal. It appeared appetizing, it tasted good, the name suggested “healthy.” I had made some assumptions without whether or not the content of this meal would really help facilitate good health.
Upon examining the nutritional contents, I discovered that the meal (not a large portion) contained 50% of the recommended daily allowance of sodium and more grams of fat than I really needed. There was no continuity between what the name suggested and the reality of what was inside.
Unfortunately, we sometimes see a similar problem within the Christian faith. The Apostle John writes in his first of three letters:
“3:1 (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. 3:2 whenever Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3:3 And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).” (1 John 3:1-3, NET Bible, www.bible.org)
Notice the “label” God’s children that is given to those who are in Christ. That is a pretty serious label. If you think about it, what higher calling is there? If we’re not careful, we can fall into the prideful thought that some other criteria (denomination, church involvement, etc.) makes us a better kind of Christian. But, that kind of reasoning has no Biblical foundation. Rather, the text in view emphasizes that the label of being God’s children is a demonstration of God’s amazing love for us.
But, the text doesn’t just say this to make us feel good about ourselves. It serves to inspire our attitude and to motivate our actions. It challenges us to question whether or not the label we wear is consistent with the contents. I believe that one of the “contents” John suggests is necessary is “faith.” This is evident by the fact that while we are now called God’s children, we have not yet arrived at the complete transformation into what God will make of us. That will come in the resurrection. John’s words indicate that he understands that his readers have faith that they will really be raised from the dead and transformed into a “pure” state.
Just in case someone might think, “Well, if I’m going to be made pure in the resurrection, I can live however I want right now” John says that “everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just a Jesus is pure.” (3:3) His point is think about how God has loved you and will fulfill his promise to you in giving you eternal life. Let this motivate you to honor Him by seeking to live a pure life. Let the contents be consistent with the label.
May the Lord help us cooperate with His Spirit in putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Amen.
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