1 John 2

First read 1 John 2 here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2&version=NIV

So today is the first day I’ve known someone with Corona and they’re close to me- a close relation to one of very few people I’ve seen over the last few weeks. I had lunch with their spouse yesterday- I was 6 feet away but still it changes things. It was one thing for it to be an out there thing and another for it to be next door.

So what might God’s word have to say about that today? Well verse 17 seems to speak to it- “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” Even if the worst comes, those in Christ because of him doing the will of God perfectly will live forever and that gives hope.

But the opening paragraph about sin also seems correct, don’t sin, but if you do we have an advocate, we have forgiveness. To an extent that’s sort of what’s happening here. As I’ve talked with the health department today about what the best thing to do with our building is- it’s the same as we did before social distance, lysol stuff, wash hands, wear gloves and masks. Corona isn’t sin, but once you fall into sin, the answer is the same as before- turn from it, turn to God, and don’t do that. Once sin or corona enters the building our response is the same. Turn from it, clean it, irradicate it, and don’t go their again.

Love and hate and light and darkness are also discussed here. Light is associated with love and darkness with hate. Our reaction to sin is to hide it and let it grow. That’s hate towards God and ourselves. God wants us to bring our problems to light so we can be cleaned, so we can grow. Plants and people don’t grow well in the dark. Light leads to growth. So does love.

It is interesting that John keeps talking about not sinning in this chapter when in the previous chapter he said that he who says he is without sin is a liar. I’ve talked to my Pastor about this and he has said that essentially sinning here is being persistent in sin and choosing it over God is the difference. Yes we sin, but through the power of Christ we don’t live there. There are certainly times I feel like I live in sin, yet I’m thankful for the advocate calling us out.

The theme of denial also comes up here- denying sin and denying Jesus. Both are important. I’m afraid of discussing sin sometimes, but if we don’t know that we sin we won’t appreciate what Christ has done for us. Sin is real. Jesus is real. Those truths go together.

Today it’s impossible to deny the power of corona virus. Before it was easy to joke about it. Now I have no desire to do that. When confronted with sin and it’s consequences there’s no denying it. I’m thankful knowing the things of this world especially corona virus will pass away. It’s also good to know my sin and yours already passed away with Jesus on the cross.

Pray for my church family at Bethlehem.