The Word Of Life Celebrated Series

Reality shows continue to draw people’s attention. . .

In an article, 10 Reality Shows That Aren't Real At All (And 10 That Totally Are), Chris Littlechild, talks about how they claim to be real; however, “the producers are just looking to stir up drama with fake moments. These shows are often called structure reality, they are not representative of reality.

Warren Wiersbe has a series of books on the New Testament called “BE” books.

• Be Loyal—Matthew

• Be Wise–I Corinthians

• Be Joyful–Philippians

• Be Complete–Colossians

• Be Ready–I and II Thessalonians

• Be Real–I John

Wiersbe’s sub-line for 1 John is “Throw away your mask and take a realistic look at love and right living in an age which knows little of either.”

We live in a society where children have never known the real deal—they are too often consumed with virtual reality. They can create their avatar and live in La La land. Many products that we get in the grocery store are imitations. Hollywood has perfected the artificial life to the point real life seems too dull and boring. Virtual reality games have led many to lose touch with reality.

My wife and I rode horses while on vacation in Texas. The guide told us a funny story. A family came to ride horses. She asked a young man if he had ridden horses in the past. He said he had. When asked about the experience, he told it was VR.

Watching a child eat cotton-candy at the fair for the first time is amusing. Their eyes reflect their anticipation. Yet, a mouthful soon turns into only a small taste. They learn quickly that not everything that promises to be filling actually fills the stomach.

John writes to a church that was in danger of wasting time and energy on substitutes for the real thing. John wanted them to experience that which fills the soul, the Incarnation of the Word of Life. I John 1:1-4

John, in writing to a church that had become confused about the nature of Jesus, writes to Christians so they will know the truth and experience a life of ultimate joy. The aging and compassionate pastor, in 1, 2, and 3 John, attempts to draw Christians’ attention to the realness of Jesus–a realness manifested in the unique relationship between God and love.

People should want that which is real, not only in food products and other tangible items but in interpersonal relationships as well. In 1 John we discover that biblical Christianity is real! It’s genuine! It’s alive! It’s sincere!

Jesus is real! The whole of the Christian experience is an authentic experience! John distinguishes between the artificial and the real. He shows us how to discover the realness of being a Christian, opposed to the artificial–those who look nice on the outside, but on the inside they can be angry, unhappy, empty, or a bunch of “fluff.”

Sometimes, when reading a book, it is almost impossible to determine the author’s purpose. They assume you will get it by osmosis. John is very clear about his purposes; he introduces each one by using a common statement:

“I write this that...”

? We write this to make our joy complete.

? I write this to you so that you will not sin.

? I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.

? I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John’s love for the people in the church is one of the things that impress me about the book of I John. He doesn’t identify a particular congregation and this has led some to believe it was simply a general letter. It may have been that he was so familiar that he didn’t need to introduce himself. You pick this up by phrases like, “My dear children” (2:1, 12, 18, 28), and “Dear friends” (2:7).

What does John mean when he refers to making “your joy complete”? When dealing with the Christian experience, the New Testament’s usage of “joy” or “happy” is not used in the same manner we use the terms. The health and prosperity gospel that is preached is unbiblical. The New Testament does not say we will be happy all of the time. To illustrate:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James 1:2

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Jesus was called the “Man of Sorrows”.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3