“AND WE KNOW that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). Here the notes are gathered together in one crashing crescendo of conclusion: the Son of God has come; He has given us understanding in general; He has given us understanding in particular, to know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true; and we are in His Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God and eternal life. No more resounding climax could ever be reached.
These conclusions are cosmic in their sweep and importance: (1) we know that the Son of God has come—not will come, has come. The Hindus are looking for the Nishkalank Awatar—the spotless Incarnation—who will be born in Sambhal, Moradabad District. The Jews are looking for a messiah. “Ours is a religion of frustration,” said a Jewish rabbi, “for we are looking for a messiah who has not come, and for a kingdom that is not here.” Amid this vast uncertainty of expectation and frustration we stand and say, “the Son of God has come.” (2) And He has come to give us understanding, to know Him who is true—not to know about Him, but to know Him personally. (3) And we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. We not only know Him, we are possessed by Him and we possess Him—we are in Him and He is in us. (4) This is the true God and eternal life. Note the “this,” not “that” in history or off in heaven, but “this,” here, present, within me. I am no longer seeking God, I’ve found Him; or rather, He has found me. This, this, this! (5) And eternal life. The eternal life is not merely a future life—a “that” in heaven; it is a “this,” a present possession now. Eternal life in heaven is a fruit of this blossom now! Thus John puts on the capstone of revelation. No greater capstone than that. This is it!
O Father God, Thou hast disclosed Thy heart in Thy Son. In Him we see reality and nothing but reality. In Him we see love and nothing but love. In Him we see ourselves, growing up in Him in all things. What a destiny! Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: “This” that I find in Christ is the true God—all else is unreality.
