The Real Thing
Introduction
It‘s near the end of the first century AD, and the Apostle John is now a very old man. But before he goes home to the Lord, he wants to ensure that the believers in his beloved church at Ephesus, are continuing to walk closely with the Lord. So he writes them a letter. This letter has now come down to us as part of God’s Word. We know it as 1 John.
At this time, Ephesus is a very important and wealthy city within the Roman Empire. Magic arts, superstitions and idol worship are rife. The pride and joy of the city is the great temple built in honour of the goddess Diana – or Artemis as she is also known. It’s huge; and in it there is an image of this goddess, who they say, ‘fell from heaven’. Those who worship the true God of heaven are a small minority of the population. So it’s not surprising that John goes to great lengths to assure the Christians in Ephesus, that because they are in Jesus Christ, they have what is true and genuine – they have the real thing. Diana is not real – Jesus is!
Today, we too live in a culture that by and large fails to acknowledge the one true God. A world where idols are mostly not housed in buildings, but nevertheless, can still consume our thoughts and our passions and our time. Many things can lure our hearts away from God. So let’s look at some verses from John’s letter that remind us, that we must not focus on idols of any description, because in Christ we have ‘the real thing’!
Jesus Christ is real
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
Unlike a lifeless pagan statue, John knows Jesus Christ is a real person. He walked and talked with him, he listened to his teaching, he even touched him. He stood at the cross while Jesus died. He saw him, and even ate with him after his resurrection! Jesus Christ is God, and John knows that the gospel he proclaims is the true Word of life!
Our status in Christ is real
1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
When we come to Christ, we are lovingly welcomed into God’s family. From the moment we believe, in the court of God’s heaven, we are declared to be right before God. If we are in Christ, God’s judgment on us right now is ‘Not guilty’! We are washed clean. Our sin is forgiven. We are purified from all unrighteousness. See 1 John 1:8-9.
Our hope in Christ is real
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
As children of God we have a glorious hope for the future. One day, when Jesus appears, our true identity will be revealed and the reality of who we are in Christ will be plainly seen. And we will reflect his glory and his perfection.
So let’s cling to what is real
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Because we are children of the living God, we have our eyes opened to see what is real. So we must continue to live in fellowship with Jesus. And we must keep away from idols – anything that takes God’s rightful place in our hearts.
Prayer: Dear Lord give me eyes to see the reality of the culture in which I live; and give me the wisdom to know what genuine faithfulness to you, looks like in this world. And to follow it with all my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
… and let’s praise God in song!
Cornerstone (Hillsong); Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross (Getty); There is One Gospel (CityAlight); I Am Not My Own (Getty); Your will Be Done (CityAlight).
Thank you Chris for sharing His Word in such an insightful way. Today’s idols can be very deceptive and hidden within our culture.
We need ‘the real’ more than ever, as we look to His coming , both in our daily lives and with a view to eternity.🦋
Thank you Cai. We appreciate your encouragement.