DEVOTIONAL
THE REFUGE
The Apostle John, an elder, whose heart was clothed with garments of wisdom, walked with the Lord Jesus Christ and had witnessed His resurrection. He wrote this letter with great love as the Holy Spirit breathed through him. This young church had set under his teaching and many, by faith, had accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. But as with any young church that comes under false teaching, they had become confused. These false teachers had come in teaching what was contrary to what John had taught them. They were saying that Jesus had not been raised from the dead. There were many in the church who believed them and had begun to deny the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice. John had taught them that Jesus was God made manifest in the flesh. He declared to them, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and handled with our hands, concerning the Word of life, the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you the eternal life.” John wanted them to understand what Peter had clarified to the rulers of Jerusalem many years earlier, “That there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
It is a sad fact that many walked away from the teachings of John, concerning The Lord Jesus Christ, and it is the same for today. There will be many in my lifetime, and in the years to come who will seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven another way, which is really no other way at all. Many will put their trust in self confidence in formalities of religion, or any other thing that denies total dependance upon the work of Christ on the cross. Others will live as if there is no tomorrow, seeking only to satisfy their sinful passions, indulging in fleshly appetites, engaging in drunken debauchery, denying the very means of Godliness that leads to eternal life until the end comes. O the terror that awaits those who dare to tread the justice of The Lord alone apart from the grace of Christ. The day of The Lord’s vengeance is so far past human comprehension that The Lord, in His mercy, has veiled the extremity of it from human eyes. This will be a day when the wrath of God will be poured out upon the unregenerate, as judgment, in the fires of hell. The Apostle Paul wrote concerning these people, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” Will you consider your ways today? Will you consider the sins that lie hidden in your heart that no one knows about but you? Write them down on a sheet of paper and look at them.
Today dear reader, count the cost. Eternity isn’t something that should be looked over so quickly. Listen to the testimony of John, for the time of salvation is now, come to Christ while the hand of mercy is extended. Come with a heart of repentance seeking the mercy of God. For as sure as you come to Christ you will have fellowship with the infinite Creator and the blood of Jesus, His Son, will cleanse you from all sin. This is an eternal security that rests upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ. Coming to Christ does not justify willful acts of sin, for the new nature given to you by regeneration repudiates sin. William Mason wrote in the mid 1700s, “Did it cleanse us yesterday? So it will today, tomorrow, and to the end of life. Who shall dare to set bounds to the cleansing virtue of the blood of the Son of God. No sin too great, no sinner too vile for this precious blood to cleanse. The chief of all sinners speaks from experience; let not one despair; for sinners who come through Christ, “Have boldness to enter into God’s presence by the blood of Jesus.” May the love of Christ apprehend you today.
“If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
John 1:7 NASBS