A Place For God's Children
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t would seem that from the time we are born upon this earth, we begin to find our place. We seek food, comfort, closeness, and let all of those around us know when such is not received. This is something that God included in His masterful plan of creation.
The same is true when we are spiritually "born of water and of the Spirit" (John 3:5). Just as God provided a place for us at physical birth, He does the same when we are born "through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Pet. 1:23). God, without a doubt, provides a place for His children! What are some of these places?
When
one obeys the gospel, "the power of God unto
salvation," (Rom. 1:16), he or she is
forgiven of all sins "through His blood" (Col. 1:14). However, the need for forgiveness does
not end with one's spiritual birth. Unfortunately, God's children sin, and
those who say they have no sin are deceived (1 John 1:8,10). Even though we do
not continue to sin as we did before becoming a Christian, all sin (1 John
1:10), and need forgiveness.
God
knew this would happen among His children and provided a place for forgiveness.
Where is this place? It is in His light where the blood of His Son is found.
"But if
we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
This
is a beautiful place to be, because there is the cleansing and forgiving blood
of Jesus.
In the same place where Christians find forgiveness is also the place of fellowship. Those who are in the family of God may be tempted at times to take spiritual fellowship for granted. However, there are only two major places of fellowship. One finds fellowship either with the devil and the world, or with Christ and other Christians. Therefore, those who refuse to be born again and to walk in God's light do not have forgiveness and fellowship.
Fellowship in Christ suggests oneness in the many areas of spiritual attributes such as duties, obedience to commandments, remembering the Lords death, grace, love, joy, and in hope of eternal life. This fellowship cannot be found in the world where the walk is in darkness, because their fellowship involves only sinful and lustful things. But those walking in God's light share God and His righteousness.
A Place Of Hope
There is a beautiful thread that weaves its way through the Bible—it is the thread of hope. When sin was introduced, hope was gone until God renewed it through the promise of the Seed of Woman (Gen. 3:15). It was not easy for God to provide a place for hope. In fact, it cost Him the death of His Son. But the place of hope became a reality when the Son of God was lifted up on a cruel Roman cross to provide the ultimate sacrifice of death. He had no sins, but He became sin! He never committed a single sin, yet he died as the Lamb of God, so that those who commit sin could have a place to receive forgiveness.
This is the price paid for hope. Consequently those who do not come to God's place of hope, die without hope. In fact, any hope that they have is limited to this life, and this kind of hope brings eternal failure.
As Paul put it, "If
in this life only we have hope
in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Cor. 15:19).
Therefore, those
who seek God's hope in this life will
find the place of His hope in the life that is to come. Paul wrote about hope
to the Christians at Colossae "of the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,"
(Col. 1:5).
Have you found
God's place for forgiveness, fellowship, and hope? Finding God's place for our
souls should be the most important thing in our lives.
(See the
PowerPoint slide that goes with this article under "Charts")
—BBBristow