Here is something very powerful; so powerful that it is life changing. The Apostle John was introducing John the Baptist in the first chapter of his account of the gospel. He said that God sent a man named John (John the Baptist) to be a witness of the light, the true light that will give light to everyone. The light he was talking about was a person, and John said that it was through this person, the light, that the world was made, but that the world did not recognize him. Even his own people did not receive him. Now here is what I find absolutely amazing and powerful. John goes on to say that those who do receive him, those who believe in his name, to them he gives the right to become children of God. Today people protest about having their rights taken away, or that their rights were violated. Many talk about their God given right. More of us need to talk about the greatest, most important right ever given to man—the right to become children of God.
From the time that Jesus entered this earth until he died the world as a whole didn’t even recognize him, didn’t receive him, and did not believe in him. Nothing has changed. The world today does not believe in the name of Jesus. But there are still a few who do believe in him, and because they do they have become God’s very own children. That is what is amazing! If you believe you go from being a lost sinner in darkness to being a person who God brings into his family as his child. How special is it that God says, “I have given you the right to be my Child?”
A number of things occur when you become God’s child. A child of God has a place in his heaven. A child of God will live in God’s house forever. A child of God becomes an heir to all that God has. A child of God will become perfect: a perfect mind, a perfect body, perfect knowledge, and perfectly holy. When God’s child leaves this world and goes to heaven he or she will have absolutely no flaws. But even before his child leaves this earth God looks at him and sees the righteousness of Jesus in him. God is proud of his children. I think God says of his child, “That’s my boy. That’s my girl. I am well pleased in them.” Those of us who have believed in the name of Jesus and have trusted in him alone to save us are blessed far beyond what we can possibly understand in this world.
God has rewarded us for choosing to believe in the Light that was sent to deliver everyone from the curse of darkness. Of course God knew that most would prefer to live in darkness although they were given the opportunity to come to the light. You know, that is very sad. All they need to do is believe in the name of Jesus to become children of God. The gospel message is amazing. I am amazed that God would want me as his child. What about you?
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