As we continue our walk through the letter entitled 1 John, we pick up at verse 3, of chapter one. John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” 1 John 1: 3-4
The Apostle John had personally walked with Jesus during His earthly Ministry. In these passages, John is saying: “I personally saw what Jesus did. I saw the miracles He performed. I personally heard Him speak the Words that bring the Good News. He personally taught me. And even though He has bodily gone back to the Father, I still have fellowship with Him, and with the Father as well. It will bring me great joy for you to join us.”
John wrote these things down so that the truth would live on forever. So that people being born into this world hundreds and thousands of years later could read them, and hear the words of truth from an eye witness; and continue in that fellowship.
Father God called man kind to write down words of truth for all to see and hear. Men like Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, and many many others. He used mankind to put together a Book of these writings that would withstand time, and all of the attempts to destroy it. He gave it to us as Gift that we could hold; and read, and hear, and see and know the truth. The Book of truth. The Word of God. The Bible.
Sadly, some people will not take the time to read it because they maintain that mankind has distorted it, left truth out of it, made it say what they wanted it to say, used it to frighten and destroy others through half truths, and man made Religion, and the list goes on. I would not dispute that some or all of that is true. But through it all, The Holy Spirit lives on in the pages. If we will but read it, the truth will open itself to us. All of that which is not truth will lay dormant on the page, but that which Is truth will make our spirit connect with the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit if we are born again. “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Answers to all of life’s questions are given in this gift of God to us. They are written down for us to seek out; (“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2) Jesus said, “It is written: Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) If the evil one can convince us that to read the Bible is a waste of time, we unknowingly forfeit the power, and peace, and righteousness, and abundance God has made available to us through His Words.
Psychologist William James once stated: “The Bible contains more true sublimity, more exquisite beauty, more morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry and eloquence than can be collected from all other books, in whatever age or language they may have been written.” Sir William Gladstone, considered by many the greatest prime minister England ever had, said, “I have known 95 great men of the world in my time. And of these, 87 were followers of the Bible.” The written Word of God will absolutely speak to our spirit within to give direction, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. It is beyond description to tell the joy that comes when revelation of a passage of scripture explodes in our spirit, and we see truth – as John saw Jesus.
For those who do not have the ability to read the written word, or even have a Bible, or have never heard about God, or Jesus, or The Holy Spirit, God still invites them to Fellowship with Him. He will show Himself through all that which is around them, and quicken their hearts to hear it, and see it. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, “Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”Romans 1:19-20
God is Love. He loves us, and desires to Fellowship with us, His children. Whoever we may be, wherever we are. And if we are privileged to have a Bible, what a wonderful path to go to Him with – and in. Let us make our joy complete in Fellowship with Him through it.
“O God, You will show me the path of Life; in Your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) Amen.
In His love,
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line