Believe in the Name of the Son of God

           It has been awhile since I last wrote a journal entry. Since then my grandmother fell and was in the hospital for over a month.  Furthermore, I have suffered through one of the longest depressions I have ever experienced. Also I have been very busy with writing and editing for the future books God is ordaining to be published.  Needless to say I have endured an interesting and hard time in my life.  Also during this time I have began to hear the Holy Spirit whisper in my heart that this year I would begin to see some things finally begin to take form which I have been working toward.  I initially thought this meant God would begin to give me more writing, musical skills or open the door right away for these things, but this has not been the case.  I have found instead God relentlessly dealing with me on my character and faith.  In this God has yet again reinforced to me that old truth taught from the gospel so many years ago.  To be best prepared to meet Jesus in heaven on that great Day you must above all things not focus on a particular skill or task but on knowing Christ better.  This must be a Christians number one priority no mater who they are or what they do!

          What does it mean to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ?  Is it just a dry believing of facts?  No.  In context of the book of 1 John I believe it is more as the following:  believing that God did send His only Son to earth to be a propitiation for our sins that we might have "eternal life."  Furthermore, to believe in the Son of God that He did take away your sins, and also believe that He is alone able to satisfy your soul.  Lastly, to believe that He will finish what He started in you, that in Jesus' Name God the Father will hear all your prayers and in Him all the promise are Yes and Amen!

          I think, there is a question that is central to this revelation: what is "eternal life."  1 John 3:15, "You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." Therefore, those who are saved have this "eternal life" abiding or living in them and those who sinners do not.  1 John 1:2 tells more about this eternal life: "Life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us."  So, eternal life was with God our Father and now it has been revealed to us.  In the first verse John refers to Jesus as the "Word of Life."  Thus, John is teaching us that Jesus Christ is "eternal life" itself!  John says this same thing in chapter 5 verse 20: "[Jesus Christ] is the true God and Eternal Life."  John says this because He learned well from His Lord when Jesus Christ prayed, John 17:3, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ."  Jesus is life itself, therefore, you can't be true and say you have eternal life or even life if you do not know Jesus Christ and have Him dwelling in your very soul.  1 John 5:12, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

        But the thing that most caught my attention is the aspect that we do not merely overflow with eternal life because we said a prayer one day and got saved.  Instead we experience eternal life to the degree that this eternal life lives and abides within us.  John in chapter one verse 1-2 refers to Christ as the "Word of life" and "eternal life" but then in verses 3-4 says, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son... that our joy may be full."  It is clear to me John is saying fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ is what eternal life is!  Again this is what Jesus says, (John 17:3) that eternal life itself is when we know our God, who is life, even the "light of life". (John 8:12)  This finally brings me back our beginning verse: "This is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son...  I have written... that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."  It is evident to me John's desire is to teach that by continuing to believe in the Son of God we will stir up and cause eternal life to spring up more and more in our lives to the fullness of our joy and consequently to God's Glory.

          Although I already know this doctrine for it is said in many in the scriptures, yet, because of my depression and triviality this thought really hit me like a ton of bricks.  I truly believe that the Holy Spirit was telling me, in the mist of previously speaking to me that this year would bring in good change for me, that still my # 1 joy, contentment, passion and goal is to be filled with "eternal life", to be in the fellowship of Jesus Christ my Lord.  I believe this thought would be convicting to any true child of God, for who lives in real continual fellowship with the Father and Jesus Christ, as they ought? None of us do!  But when we are suffering, depressed and or in the mist of a hard trial our spiritual life is irritable and tired.  We find to fully open our hearts bear before our God in scripture reading, prayer and heartfelt meditations are the one thing most difficult.  This is a dire problem because drawling closer in purity, confession and strongly pushed meditations of our God is the best cure: from frustration to His peace, from sadness to His happiness.

          In this mist of good God teaching me, I found Him being kind and patient to me yet again by drawling me closer in fellowship to Himself.  Notice, I did not say mere relationship.  God desires something more specific than that. He desires very intimate and personal communication through the Spirit. He has ordained the means of scripture, meditation, and prayers to accomplish this.  Fellowship and communion denotes you must be face to face to have it.  You might be able to have a long distance relationship but you cannot have a long distance communion.

          In addition to what God taught me 1 John lead me to ponder that I must "continue" in such away that Jesus Christ who is eternal life itself "abides" in my soul, springing up to our completion of continued joy.  Example: if you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one true treasure and satisfaction for your soul, then continue to believe this the next hour and then the next and then the one after that by living in that reality.  If you believe right now Jesus is more satisfying than sex then continue to believe this tomorrow during the hour of temptation.

1 John 1:5-6, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."  God is light and no darkness is in our beloved God. Therefore, because light cannot reside with darkness, since the two are opposed to one another, then our fellowship with God is limited to the degree we walk in darkness.  But if we walk in purity then we will have greater fellowship with our God!  1 John 2:5, "Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him."  Therefore, since "God is Love" if God's love is perfected within us then it is the same to say God's fellowship and eternal life is perfected in us. 

          In view of this we should, therefore, keep God's sweet commandments, for in doing so His love is perfected within our souls!  This is why the Apostle instructs us: 1 John 2:15, "Do not love the world.... If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  That is an incredible thing to say.  Our Father's loving fellowship is entirely not with us if we love the world.  First, God hates the world along with is lusts and desires because they did not and do not come from Him.  If you participate in the world you are participating in something that is other and contrary to our Heavenly Father.  Therefore, if do this you willingly you equally disqualify yourself from having eternal life inhabit within you.  Secondly, the greatest commandment is to love your God with all our heart.  This means if you love the world you fail to perform the most important command our Father has given us to carry out.  Additionally, this same doctrine is taught by or Lord Jesus Christ Himself: Matthew 5:8, "[Happy] are the pure in heart, For they shall see God."  Communing with the Supreme Being, which is none other than to be brought intimately close to eternal life itself, will greatly increase the joy of any being.  If we are pure in heart then Christ promises that we will see His beauty, and enjoy the pleasure that comes from such a view.  However, the impure in heart are denied this bliss.

        The Apostle continues this same thought: 1 John 3:1-3, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore ...beloved children of God... know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

          I find this teaching convicting.  The truth we are taught goes as the following.  If we really know and understand how indescribable God's merciful love is toward us and that one-day we will actually see Him, then as an irrevocable effect we would purify ourselves.  We know our God is pure, which means, we will accordingly purify ourselves for nothing matters more to us than to actually see the Supreme Being who is the highest love and treasure of our heart.

         Upon thinking about this I have come to realize over the years how much my soul has been pulled toward this world and its allurements.  I know I do not have, as I ought, in my soul the daily desire burning like hot fire to be pure to the degree God has called me.  It is clear to me why this is: I do not see by faith daily the utter wonder of my God's merciful love toward me and that truly one day I will see Him face to face.  I know if I were surveying the wonderful cross where the prince of Glory died that I would be more in love with Him and consequently, desire to be more pure so that I could see him even better.  I must conclude, if God was my first love how could I not live my life any other way?

         To add to this I have also felt the Holy Spirit deal with me on a more personal level, revealing to me I am more selfish than what I would like to admit.  One of my first emotions toward this personal interaction with my good God was enjoying His faithfulness toward me.  My God promises quite strongly in the scripture that He would be faithful to sanctify all His Children, preparing them for their heavenly dwelling place with Himself.

         I have often been made aware by my fellow married friends that in a godly marriage the sanctifying and cleansing of selfishness is frequently center.  I have yet to be married and, therefore, have wondered, knowing that I am as selfish as the next saint, how my good God would grow me on this issue.  Yet, I find Him as faithful as ever.  I see Him sanctifying me on this issue although I am single.  Yahweh has caused my living with my grandmother and twin brother to be a means of grace to correct and train me in godliness.  He is faithful.

          This is so beautiful to me for this reason.  It is on my part to obey the first and second greatest commandments, since Christ commanded them to me.  Yet I find a wonder, yes, even a mystery here.  I should be the one to go out my way to seek and discover every possible way to obey my God and grow in Holiness.  I should do this out of love to Him.  But I do not do this, as I ought.  However, what I find is that it is my good God who goes out of His way to cause and direct every area of my life for good, righteous and divine purposes.  What I thought would be a season of casual spiritual coasting as I enjoy God's blessings, God knew my heart better and made this a time of strong spiritual correcting and growth.  What an awesome God who saved us and whom we serve.

         I know that today God Himself planned this day into existence from a past eternity ago.  Furthermore, He also planned where our feet would be going today in order to fulfill the promises He gave us in His Son.  I must not forget that there is no vain day when I live for the Glory of God.  Therefore, thanks be the "Fathers of Mercies", even when we are not proactively living for His Glory as we should, He is still working behind the scenes and being faithful to this cause in our lives, even when we are not.  Let adoration be given to our God who's Name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we are unfaithful, His is faithful to the Blood of the everlasting covenant, even to the end of the age!

          Joel 3:17, "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy."

          Prayer:  Oh Heavenly Father, who has made Himself the Lord of my heart, may Your Name alone be hallowed in all the earth.  Also hallow Your Name in my life and cause my life to be a means of grace for others to know, treasure and value Your Son Jesus Christ forever.  May I not even take another breath unless this is true for my life.  You are my life and happiness itself!  I have nothing without You shinning Your glorious presence and merciful love into my bleak soul. 

          Take me by the hand, I pray, and gently lead me under Your blazing light and burn away my unfruitful parts.  God my Father I have come to grasp yet again the wonder of your gentle and oh so thoughtful kindness toward me.  I am broken under the weight of such merciful love which seems to only keep bursting at the seems, the more I survey it.  Forgive me and embrace me with Your mercy, for this is my only plea. 

          By your kind revealing hand I know my sin better for what it is: bigger and more horrible than what I would like to face up to, but have always known to be.  My hands tremble as I look at them, for they feel the weakness that seems to posses them, when it comes to living in the purity that my heart drives them to pursue.  My selfishness, lust and pride are before me and the deceitfulness of my heart to secretly entice me to participate in these things seems relentless to grab my hands even now to lead me away after vanity.  Surely King David correctly knew that You are the only true fortress and shield to anyone.  Be this for me and cause your staff comfort my heart, for it fears my weakness.

          Thank you for being so faithful to Your word and promises of grace insured by Your Son's blood.  What other hope would I have?  Your unfailing power to know me and faithfully lead me into sanctification is startling.  Although I do not show the degree of interest as I should, You are not like me, You do not fail.  What a pleasure it is to see You put to use Your reservoir of power, goodness and wisdom to pursue me and work in me Your good and perfect will: my sanctification Your Glory, my holiness your Praise, my completion You Majesty displayed. 

          What is left for me to say but this.  All my goodness and future hope is summed up in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  What good do I have part from that?  I know of nothing.  Therefore, may the heavens sing with awe, and the children of men shut their mouths and know that to their Great God belongs all Power, Glory and Dominion.