Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
12 I am writing to you, dear children,
because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
14 I write to you, dear children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one. 2John 2:9-14
Watching Survivor 50 last night, I think her name was Angelica said, "Last time I played as the old Angelica. I've changed a lot since then. Now I'm playing as the new Angelica." Jeff asked if people could really change who they are and the person he asked changed the subject. John would say, "Yes, a leopard can change his spots because remember my gospel - through believing in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit we are born again. We are new people." This passage tells the before and after. I once heard a man share his testimony and a key component was walking past a barber shop and on the window were posted 2 pictures - one of the barber before Christ and one after Christ. He was stunned that they were the same man and it made an eternal difference in the observer.
What would our before picture look like? John says before Christ we walked around in the darkness. We stumbled, we were blinded, and we didn't know where we were going. The evil one was in control. When I look at the residents I train that don't know Jesus, they would probably say, "Wait, I know where I'm going, I have plans for my life. I'm not stumbling. No one is controlling me." This is why the lost are hard to reach until there's an interruption of their plan and they realize life is falling apart and they have no control. Life is a fleeting vapor and then what? There is a whole reality out there, the spiritual world that they can't see. It's like living in the Matrix and they prefer being blind.
Cypher: I know this steak doesn’t exist... Ignorance is bliss | The Matrix
We have to share and then pray that when they reach a point of reflection in their lives, when the Holy Spirit opens the window to their soul, that they would, like my friend, remember the picture in the barber shop window.
What is the condition of the believer? A transformed life down here. We are no longer slaves to the devil but under control of "the Word of God living in us". We are born again and instead of pursuing our desires living for self and hating anyone getting in the way of our kingly reign, we love and consider others above ourselves. We know where we're going, the light of God's presence and His word light our paths and give us assurance that we are headed in a correct direction with an eternal reward. We know the Father, which is huge. The creator who created us to be in a relationship with Him has restored that relationship. The very reason we exist has been restored. We know the meaning of life! And we have power over the devil, and we are getting stronger every day. Using the Matrix example, it may not be an easy life but it's the right one - we aren't living a lie, and every day is a new adventure.
Pray today that God would lead you to someone that is walking in the darkness that you might shed a little light on. Don't be discouraged if they don't immediately believe. Maybe someday, something you said will shine into their souls.
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