Our scripture this morning is 1 John 2:18-25.
Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
John writes to the people of his time and all that follow, including us, that “the last hour is here” (v. 18). My personal belief and that of many, is that the last days began when Christ returned to heaven. He told us that “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know” (Acts 1:7).
This is guidance we must live by, not concerning ourselves with the specifics of “when”, but the fact that the Lord Jesus will return and we must be ready, whenever that occurs in God’s timing. A popular saying is “we’re the welcoming committee, not the planning committee”. This means sharing God’s love and welcoming new Christians right up until the time we welcome Christ back to gather us all. For this reason, John tells us we “must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning” (v. 24).
Waiting is not easy, and many long to see the end of days just to see Jesus. However, John writes that “in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us” (v. 25). If we are faithful to the lessons He gave and go to share His love, we shall see Jesus!
Heavenly Father, we are so thankful for the gift of our Messiah. Help us to go in faith and love to share the Good News with everyone. Amen.