Corona Devo 589

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (18) “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. (19) And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. (20) All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. (21) But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”  ~John 3:16-21

~~~~~~~~~~~~

These verses cause a couple of clear images to flash through my mind.  The first is a Disney movie called, "All Dogs Go to Heaven" because I think most people believe not only that "All Dogs Go to Heaven", but that "All People Will Go to Heaven" too.

Many live without regard or care to any knowledge or relationship with Jesus Christ and they think it will not matter.  But the "subtitles" within these verses prove that it will matter. (But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  ~John 3:18).  

It's a wake-up call for those of us who don't take our faith very seriously today.  

The other image that pops into my mind is a sword--a double-edged sword.  One side of the blade is the sword of the spirit, Jesus swings the door wide-open for anyone who believes in him (John 3:18).

"Anyone" pretty much covers all of us and everyone who wants to be covered.

The Bible admonishes us to spend our lives (as believers) in a daily Christian-conquest of outreach and invitation to those who may not yet have been introduced to Jesus. (Go and make disciples...~Matthew 28:19).  

And some have the door open.

Some people "just haven't met Him yet", and that is the only difference between their beliefs/actions/decisions and ours (as believers).  The hope/peace/salvation/purpose that Jesus brings into our lives should propel us to love-in-outreach to introduce God’s light that came into the world (John 3:18).   It's why we are here.

But some do not have the door open and are purposely choosing NOT to believe in Jesus.

And apparently (and Biblically) all "dogs" do not go to Heaven.

But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. (19) And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. (20) All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  ~John 3:18-20

While there is excitement in sharing with those who have "ears to hear"...the reality and contrast in those who hate the light and refuse to go near it (John 3:20) is jarring at times.

My husband and I work in the computer security arena, and we use the gifts God has given us (tech for him and talking for me) to connect-with and serve people with an honest product at honest prices.  God takes care of the rest.  I am sure you utilize your strengths in the same way, and God is pleased when we do what is right (and) come to the light.

But all dogs do not go to heaven, and I had a frantic elderly lady call into our office yesterday because she had been "taken advantage of" by an alert on her computer and the prompt to call a number to have things "fixed".  She told me that she "learned a $500 lesson", and she wondered if I could help her?  

Well--I sure couldn't, except through empathy, which I gave her in earnest.  But my husband then spent two hours on the phone and on her computer until she was "safe" from any further "darkness".

If we need a reminder of people who love the darkness more than the light, for their actions are evil, an older lady being scammed out of $500 turned my stomach, broke my heart, and proved the darkness of these verses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16

God has swung the door of salvation w-i-d-e open, and it cost Him His Son to do it. 

But He did it anyway.  He did it for you and for me and for anyone.  And so God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. (John 3:19)

Being aware of both sides helps us to discern how to handle them.  

Lord Jesus, give us boldness and discernment in sharing your Word and Your light with others.  May whoever and anyone come to believe in You so they shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).  But protect us from the darkness of the world and people choosing not to walk into Your light.  Flood our lives, plans , and hearts with Your light.  Amen.

Don't shy away or recluse from His light.  Come to it today, and let's make our best attempt at doing what God wants (John 3:21). 

Afterall, don't you want to see all the dogs in Heaven when we go there one day?

Blessings, 

sarah     

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Corona Devo 1156

Image
At work, we provide Trainings for customers, so that they can be updated and educated on all of the latest features (and how to use them) within our product.  Many companies do this--sharing "Best Practices" are a way to ensure positive outcomes on the customer and vendor sides of things. My kids often offer me "life hacks" that they have learned from watching an online video promising to "save time" and "make your life easier".  And just this week, my husband enlightened me about the "tear-away" feature built into most plastic rings holding cans/bottles of pop or Gatorade together.  When separated, the plastic rips open easily, releasing the bottle--saving wildlife that might be caught if it is discarded as trash, and saving me  frustration or angst because I no longer have to pull with all my might to get a bottle out of the plastic rings.  ( Who knew? )  Life hacks do save time and make your life easier! Who couldn't benefit from...
Read more

Corona Devo 1217

Image
The unanswered “why’s” of life, the disorder of our days, and even the unfairness of our struggles can cause us to question ourselves and also to question our God. But the order-of-Creation and the systems that God has set in place are undeniable answers that swing back and forth like God’s pendulum-reminder that He set the world in motion, and He continues to keep order, even when it seems as if we and our world are in dis- order.   Job was a man going through some heavy and hard stuff.   Maybe we are too.   Job’s trials had caused him to question the order of life, and possibly God’s dominion over it.   We can relate.   The “Why’s?” and the “Why Me’s” can stack up in our minds and hearts, but like a parent exercising loving-authority over a child, God reminds Job and us--of His power, omniscience and of His ultimate authority over everything: Creation… and us today .   Then the  Lord  answered Job from the whirlwind: (2) “Who i...
Read more

Corona Devo 991

Running low on " good things " today?  Doesn't it (sometimes) seem like/trend like/read like/tweet like/water-cooler-chat or backyard-fence-visit like/intimidate like/depress like... there are no  good things in the land? . I know. It's no secret that many have abandoned  the Law of the  Lord,  and at times, that's us .   It is evident all around us that people have  followed each other  in this sin.  When we look around...or when we live our days...we can wonder: Are there  any  good things  left in the land? There are still some good things in the land ...and no matter how bleak we feel the "forecast" for today is...there will always  be  some good things in the land, because God is in the land.   T he Bible reminds us of that today.   ~~~ The Israelites (and their king, Rehoboam ) were God's people, but like all of us at times/seasons of our lives...they wandered from Lord and His ways....
Read more