Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Let’s look at two scenarios. One where you turn around and you see the door open and someone walks in the room, and it's the person that you have been really close with over the years that you continue to talk to, and you haven't seen them in forever.
Now capture your feeling in that moment, and how you would respond to them walking through the door.
The Person You Have Conflict With
Now, here’s another scenario of the same type. You're standing there. You turn around, the door opens and you see this person walk in. You're smiling, and it's the person you know you've had a conflict with, or you did something that they're not going to like, or you owe them money.
Can you feel that? Can you feel that different scenario and that different feeling that you have kind of well up inside? It's like, okay, who can I hide behind? I don't want to see them right now.
You have these two scenarios and that difference in feeling—and in who the person might be—but it's more about not just the person, but the relationship you have to them.
Our Verse of the Day today is 1 John chapter 2, verse 28. It says, "And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame."
Jesus Did Not Save You for Heaven
I would love to pull back away from just the scenario that our verse encapsulates—and that's just His return. I want to say something to you that maybe something you haven't heard, and it may be kind of shocking. Bear with me. We're going to talk it through because it may kind of shock you when I first say this. I need you to capture this:
Jesus did not save you for heaven.
Hang on. I'll say it again. Jesus did not save you for heaven.
Heaven Is a Location
Heaven is a location. Jesus saved you for a relationship. That's the underlying core element of this verse. Because so many times we get caught up in, we have a relationship with Jesus. We have a relationship with God—that we got to receive a ticket to heaven, a location.
From the beginning of mankind, when Adam and Eve sinned and they fell, the whole entire plan became about reconciling us back to God. It wasn't about a location at that time. It was the Garden of Eden. It was about reconciliation and redeeming us back to Himself.
When Jesus Walks Through the Door
That's why we can talk about the nuances of our lives and how we're living. When Jesus walks through the door or comes back, and whether we're going to shrink back in shame or greet Him—we can talk about that. The underlying core element for that is actually understanding: you've been saved to have a deep relationship with Him.
That's what He died for. It wasn't just about having a future location. It was about Him wanting an intimate, personal relationship with you. That will actually drive us to the point of actually developing this relationship and finding creative ways and more intentional ways to actually connect with Him. It’s so that by the time this relationship continues to develop and we talk to Him and we can keep communicating with Him and walking this journey through with Him, that when He walks through that door, it's our Jesus.
It's not about a debt that I owe. It's not about doing something wrong and shrinking back in shame. It's I have been living out because of that redemptive work that He died for and paid for on the cross. I continue to live in that and pursue Him every day, so that when He walks through that door, it's the greatest presence I could have. I am ready and willing and able and excited to greet Him.
It Is Never Too Late
I would just encourage you: it's not just about if He were to walk through the door right now. Some of you have either had past sin or maybe are currently living in it, and you feel like if He were to walk through the door right now that you would shrink back. It is never too late.
He wants to redeem that. He wants you reconciled. That's what He wants. He wants that with you today. No matter where you're at.
Take Time with the Lord
I would just ask you to take some time after you're done listening to this. Get with the Lord and spend that time with Him and say, what does it need to take to get there? It's not just about walking in the door. It's a constant walking with You. What do I need to get there? Take some time with Him.
