“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3)
In this time of COVID pandemic, we tend to feel out of control, victimized, and depressed because of the uncertainty that surrounds us. Yet, as hard as it sounds, we who have faith in Jesus can always rejoice like the Apostle John did in his epistle. John, like us, lived in chaotic times filled with great violence, idolatry, and cruelty. He had seen many of his fellow believers put to death by the idolatrous Romans. Yet even John could rejoice in the midst of such terror as he contemplated the wonderful gift that only believers have: union with Jesus, both now and in eternity.
We who have been granted the gift of faith in Jesus are children of God, equal in righteousness to Jesus Himself, as deserving as He of the Father’s love and blessings. And this is not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus has done. We are loved and accepted by God! Such a thought gives us the ability and desire to live lives of purity and holiness, though we are ever aware of our weakness and frailty. We struggle in this life with our sinfulness and the sinful allure of the world. Yet we rejoice to know that one day that struggle will be over.
God’s love is what saves us. Love is demonstrated by God toward us. Love is what He desires we extend to others. Love, as He manifests it, is so different from the world’s major misconception of love as romance, physical attraction, or sex. Love is a positive regard for other people, not just those who love us, not just our relatives and friends, but our enemies as well. Love is shown by self-sacrifice and caring for the needs of others without demanding or expecting anything in return. Jesus manifested such love by dying on the cross. He expects us to do the same. This seems an impossible task without faith for God knows our weakness. He equips and enables His children to obey.