1 John 2:18-25 (NRSV)
Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised us, eternal life.
By John Grimm
Over the years, as I have been part of choir practices, I have learned a few lessons. The most important lesson I have learned in choir practice is to start at the beginning. Even when a song is sung in the round, the beginning must be the first item sung. Otherwise, the song will not sound good.
Let us take it from the beginning … that is the phrase heard when a choir director starts a selection of music. It is also the phrase which we ponder today about our confession of Jesus Christ. The beginning of our faith happens when we recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Around that beginning, we start experiencing and living eternal life.
From that beginning of faith in Jesus Christ, we test to see if what we believe and how we act aligns with the beginning. If part of our faith starts to deny Jesus and God the Father, then we are starting to follow a lie. The truth will shine through each part of our faith and will always confirm and grow through belief in the Son and the Father. As we live eternal life, we will be able to see back to the beginning. As we live eternal life, we will see Jesus Christ in our daily life here on this planet.
God, thank you for Jesus the Christ! We confess Jesus is the Christ. As we live the promise of eternal life now, help us to see Jesus throughout our days. When we begin to follow lies and any antichrist, allow us the opportunity to see the need to return to the beginning of our faith. May we be found in this life to be in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Methodist Life 