Coming And Staying vs Coming and Going

Children’s Sermon

The last part of the Scripture today says, little children, stay with Christ, so when he returns we may have confidence and not fear or shame. Wait, stay with him so that when he comes? How can you stay with Christ if he hasn’t come yet? Well, the truth is, he has come, he is here, and he is coming. Now, this is an imperfect analogy, but staying with Christ is something like a meal…in fact, when he returns in full and final victory, his beloved are promised a grand meal with him. (SET OUT SOME PLAY FOOD OR REAL FOOD?) Perhaps we’re just after the main course of sorts…maybe the appetizer came to Abraham, and Moses, and the prophets. The main course came with the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. Now, we’re waiting dessert…the sweetest of it all, Jesus’ final victory and eternal reign over a new creation. You know, even while we’re waiting for dessert, the main meal is still impacting you…you can likely even still taste it. It’s working in your tummy. And, if a dessert is coming that you like, I’ll bet you can often almost taste it too. And that’s where we are. Stay connected to Jesus, the main eternal course…and know with confidence when he returns with dessert, you’ll have it more abundantly than you can possibly imagine.

Scripture

1 John 2:18-28 - Children, it is the last hour. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming when in fact even now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know this is the last hour. They were with us but left because they didn’t belong with us. If they had belonged with us, they would have stayed. Their actions prove where they belong. But you’ve been anointed by the Holy One and thereby know all things. I write to you, not because you don’t know the truth but because you know it and because you know no lie comes from the truth. Those who deny that Jesus is the Christ are liars. Those who deny the Father and the Son are antichrists. Nobody who denies the Son has the Father but everyone who confesses the Lord gets the Father also. Let what you heard early stay with you. If you keep what you heard with you, you will stay connected to the Son and the Father. Jesus himself gave us the promise of eternal life. I write you also concerning those who try to deceive you. They are no match for what is embedded deeply inside you - the anointing of Christ! You don’t need a teacher because his anointing teaches you all you need to know. Jesus’ anointing is true and not a lie. Live into what you were taught! And now, little children, stay with Christ, so that when he returns we may have confidence and not fear or shame.

Engage

A couple of weeks ago, when in Nashville, I had a brief case of conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. At least I think that’s what it was. So, I skipped the last morning of the conference and went to an urgent care clinic near my hotel. But, and this is still relatively new in our world, historically speaking, before I went I searched the internet and read some articles on the condition…feeling fairly sure I had some type of it. So, I walked into my appointment knowing the most common types and a few dangerous types. The doctor was fairly certain it was a mild type, and it was, but I had to ask about the scary types…His answer convinced me he knew what he was talking about and reassured me. You know, when I was searching, I noticed numerous links to home cures, vitamin cures, what have you…outside routine medical circles. I didn’t chase those links, but someone might!

Encounter

Even more dangerous is searching on the internet, or video applications or websites, for information on antichrist(s). Lord Jesus, help those who look to the internet for their theology! It’s truly sad and can be very disorienting when people fall for junk theology.

This whole section of Scripture, and much of John’s writing, reminds us to keep our minds on Christ to remember who Christ IS and not just who he was. We must remember not to confuse Christ who is here and staying with those who are here and going. Christ was here, is here, and is coming. Antichrists are here and will be coming UNTIL Christ returns in final victory. Then, they’re finished! John reminds us to know the Son is to know the Father. To know Jesus is to know God.

We should never be looking for just ONE antichrist, as some would say, but be aware there are MANY antichrists at any given time. John, in Revelation, gives us an example of what one looks like…Nero, and those who follow the vales of the Roman Empire at the time. Re-numerate some of the values...

But, remembering all this and acting upon it doesn’t just happen. We must remember. It takes effort. Why?

We’re often attracted to flashes in the pan. The newest fad. The new fix…the new pill, the new book (I’m guilty). Often we’re drawn to the more controversial, more sensational, flashiest things. Satan whispers in our ear that when something is controversial, someone is hiding the truth…and the controversy is because it works. Going for these flashes in the pan rarely delivers what they promise, most often produces no substantive change, and sometimes does significant damage. I remember, and some of you may as well, years ago a product called Metabolife. I had friends taking it. At its peak, it was doing hundreds of millions of dollars per year in sales. It seemed to take away weight with no behavior change! Yet, it contained ephedra. Later, it was revealed that the company knew full well the product was highly dangerous but hid their knowledge. Dangerous as in seizures, heart attacks, strokes, and the like.

Or, take another example. I recently watched just a few minutes of a TV show I didn’t even know existed anymore. MTV Cribs. Cribs is slang for homes. Cameras go around and look at the homes of celebrities. Wow, you might think, must be nice to have a 500 sqft closet, what have you. But what they don’t show you is the debt, the dysfunction, and the like that often go with such homes. Or the cost of upkeep. Someday maybe they’ll do an episode of Cribs titled, Where are they now, showing the new owners of all those homes or, in some cases, that the houses have gone into disrepair, repossession, etc…Look up MC Hammer if you want a prime example.

Remember, Christ has an eternal home, glorious even if not massive, prepared for those who love him. Every single home ever shown on MTV Cribs, as glamorous as they may seem, is temporary. Satan tells us there’s worth, real value, purpose in these material things, these quick fixes…it’s a lie. Don’t confuse here and staying with here and going.

Antichrists are any who deny Jesus as the Messiah, as Lord, as crucified and resurrected. And they’re everywhere. They will often TRY to deceive true believers…Rarely will they be happy keeping their own beliefs to themselves…they are compelled to be evangelists for Satan. But, they’re no match for Christ inside of us if we’ll remember that and lean on it. Antichrists are even found in the church. Certainly today and certainly back when John wrote these letters in the early days of the church. Who were they in his day? Some were Judaisers…those who wanted to make following Christ more like Judaism had been, following a formal list of rules rather than living a LIFE of dedication.

Following Christ should be more about principle than permission. Values over rules. There is no possible way to codify every situation into a book of rules. But a set of values, principles, can cover any situation.

Also, there were philosophers in the early church. Those who wanted to make Christianity an opinion rather than a life. A possible truth rather than the Truth. Eventually, these antichrists left the church because enough principled disciples stood firm. They remembered. They held fast amidst the temptation to stray. They let Christ rule their minds rather than self rule their minds.

As an aside, the United Methodist Church has created a mess in this area. For a long time, our slogan is (or has been) open minds, open hearts, open doors. I have no problem with open hearts and open doors. But open minds? No thank you. I’ll gladly hold onto the Truth that Jesus is Lord. We should have open minds in many areas, but not in the truths of the gospel.

Now, I’ve said before and I’ll say again, when is Christ returning? We don’t know. Nobody knows except God himself. And that’s the way it has to be. Anyone trying to tell you they know is selling something and is being disingenuous. God sees time differently than we do…and we can trust the fact that Christ will return in final victory at precisely the very best possible time.

Empower

We, as followers of Christ, are to be ROOTED, if you will, in the historic truths of our faith. Something like plants. You know, plants wont’ survive if their roots are constantly being shaken and uprooted. Or, if they’re in a container that isn’t the proper size or condition to sustain them. What containers do we place ourselves in? What, or who, do we allow to shake our roots? There are many who believe that when gardeners speak to plants, it helps them grow better. Science has proven that certain types of music played to plants helps them grow stronger and healthier. Though, and I think this is true of humans as well, one researcher determined that playing jazz music to plants made some grow TOWARD the music and some grow AWAY from the music.

Also, science is continually developing the new concept of mother trees in the forest. Trees who look over and provide for other trees in their area. As I said a few weeks ago, our fellowship around Christ as Lord performs all of these functions in our lives. They help us to not confuse coming and here with coming until here. Jesus is Lord! Praise the Lord!

Pray