Proclamation

Have you ever stopped to think about where your information comes from? Most people depend on the television, the internet, or a friend. Too often, we don't even stop to think whether or not it is reasonable, much less true. The consequence of our readiness to accept what we see on television or the internet, or hear from a friend, who probably heard from a friend, is that there is considerable false information spreading around the globe at the speed of light.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

1 John 1:3-4

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear." The problem of information (or misinformation) dissemination has been with us since the world began. Given our advances in technology, we can spread bad information at speeds that Ben Franklin could scarcely imagine. For example, we depend on things like our driver's license or social security number to prove that we are who we say we are. In today's environment of picture perfect photographic reproduction or other means of "identity theft," one's proof of identity is not even safe.

John tells us that he can make a proclamation that no one can refute. He knows that he knows that he knows God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son. Now that is a strong statement. How can he be so sure? In the second verse of this chapter, John says, "…which we have looked at and our hands have touched." He wants everyone to know that this proclamation is based on irrefutable physical evidence. Multiple witnesses saw the same thing and touched it just to make sure their eyes weren't deceiving them. Now that they had this information, they wanted to share it with the world.

As Christ-followers, we are to share this Good News. Matthew 28 tells us to go and teach and baptize, so why is it so difficult for us to share the Gospel? For most people, it is the fear of rejection. We are afraid of what people might think of us. The apostles faced death and yet they continued to proclaim. It wasn't out of obligation, but confidence and pure joy that they made their proclamation. They just couldn't help it.

Maybe we need to regain the joy of our salvation. This passage should go a long way toward that goal. "We write this to make our joy complete," says John. Our witness completes the circle of salvation. We may not all be able to knock on doors or stop somebody in the street and tell them about Jesus – but we should be prepared to if God so leads. That preparation starts in the heart and spreads through our actions. We need to fellowship with Jesus so our actions draw people to Him. When our relationship is strong our witness will be fruitful.

We serve an awesome God!!!!!

A man's pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proverbs 29:23