You know who you are. If you aren’t, then you need not read further.
Few things stir me to the point of anger. I blame it on a blend of past experiences through which my ‘tinman’ defense mechanism was forged and Philippians 4:8.
Still, when a very precious one to me was told I would condemn and reject them because of their life choices, I was, at first, offended.
Then and now, though, as I read the Word before heading to bed, I was reminded of John 3:16-21:
“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God’s one and only Son. They are judged by this fact: The Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do. But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God.”
It is not enough to ever, only read John 3:16.
Verse 19 struck me as I lifted up those in my life whom I know feel condemned, rejected, and abandoned.
“They are judged by this fact: the Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things.”
The ‘fact’ judges us, not the Truth.
The fact is we are judged when we do not choose the Light, when we still want the ‘darkness’ to hide our shame, our embarrassment, our fears, and our own disappointment.
The Truth sets us free to unconditionally love others no matter what the facts may be.
“God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:17
There are always three voices in your head: God’s, yours, and the enemy’s.
The enemy lies to you, when you hear that real believers will condemn, reject, and abandon you. The real believers, among whom I hope I am walking, know from what they themselves have been ‘saved’.
Like Paul, we say:
“What a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?” – Romans 7:24
Later, he writes:
“So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty. Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” – Romans 8:1-2
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” – John 8:32
You can remain judged by the facts of your current circumstances or be set free by the Truth.
Truth is, we love you, no matter what.
David Wilkerson wrote in his classic, “The Cross and the Switchblade”, “You could cut me up into a thousand pieces and lay them in the street, and every piece will still love you.”
You are judged by a fact and can be set free by the Truth.
