“For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.” (2John 1:2)
John expresses the reason for writing his book of the Gospel, for the Truth’s sake. The Truth is that we are sinners saved by God’s merciful and loving grace, His undeserved gift of favor and blessing. Paul also expressed this sentiment in 1Corinthians 9:23 when he writes: “And this I do for the gospel's sake...” The Truth of the Gospel compels committed man to forsake all his own desires, dreams and life for the spread of the Good News.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) The events leading to the fall of man are devastating. It condemned all of mankind to the slavery of sin. Paul describes the state of man in sin. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18) And even today with all the technological ease in which we get the latest news, some have not heard the Good News and are still in bondage to sin. They awake with no thought of God, go about their days struggling on their own with life, without hope, depending only on themselves and their own strength and devices to cope.
We cannot keep this invaluable treasure of the Gospel to ourselves. The world doesn’t understand it, that’s true. They do reject it. But the nuggets of life we speak imbeds in their heart and there it will give birth one day. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) One day it will spring up, their eyes will be opened, and they will grasp at it like a drowning man grasps for the life ring. The Truth will be there for them. The Word of Truth is eternal, alive and powerful. The Truth will never just be words in the air but will implant in the heart and bear fruit. “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
A new born again Christian consumes the Word of God and grows in leaps and bounds in his faith. But for the long time Christian if we are not obedient to what the Lord is showing and teaching us, soon it’s all a routine. The Bible is read without thinking and soon the Truth is just words taken for granted without the application of the Truth to daily life and daily struggles. And although not aware of it, that there is a belief that success in life is based on our own strength, our own knowledge and our own power. There is no more growth in sanctification because decisions for comfort halt it. In the end, we have lost our first love, the nearness of His Presence and the voice of the Holy Spirit.
In Revelation, Jesus speaks to the churches. We can understand this literally or metaphorically as applied to us individually. Jesus tells the church of Sardis that they think they are alive but are dead. “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:1-3) They have deceived themselves into thinking they are right with the Lord because they continue to do the things required of them. But their heart is not in it. They are going through the motions.
Jesus tells us, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33) Being a disciple of Jesus is the opposite of what was wrong with the Sardis church. For the Truth’s sake, we forsake all to be a disciple of Jesus.
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