Watch/Listen
Eternal Life Lived Here
Brian Mashburn
January 17, 2010
Audio Player
Eternity Became Flash
Have you ever been struck with an idea, a perfect or timely concept, something so powerful and “right-on” that you rushed to the nearest writing utensil and started scribbling it down on whatever you could find?
I can’t know for sure, but this is the impression I have of John concerning his letter we call 1 John.
I picture him consumed with the message, grabbing some scrap of papyrus, and excitedly capturing the inspiration that filled him. In a way, he says the same thing over and over in as many different ways as he can think of. And while it is clearly written to people he loves, he skips any of the pleasantries that a letter normally has. He doesn’t mention the people he writes to, or even sign his name. He just gets right to it. He says…
“The stuff of eternity, the stuff that created and now sustains everything that matters, and all of matter itself, actually became matter! I saw it. I touched it. I handled it. I had discussions with it. And let me tell you…it’ was a ‘him’!” (1 Jn 1:1-2, my paraphrase).
A lofty thought, to be sure. But equally sure is the fact that John was sure of it. And he was desperate for everyone to realize it. He believed that realizing this was the beginning of the life that every human being was longing for. A life of actual relationship with God.
He goes on in verses 3 and 4 to list three reasons he was proclaiming this to them. It was so that they could have:
1) meaningful relationship with each other
2) meaningful relationship with God and Jesus
3) untouchable and perfect joy
What would your life be like if you had those? Do you want them? Then let us consider John’s excitement and claims.