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272. The Window to God for the World

John 14:22-24
Key Verse: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him."
John 14:23

The world cannot see God, but they do see us. We are the world's window to God. That is why it is so important that we obey His Will. When we stray, yet claim to be His follower, we not only lie to the world, but obscure the world's view of God through our disobedience.

"Lord, why do You intend to show yourself to us and not to the world," the other Judas asks? The world does not love Jesus because it does not know Him. Not only does it not know or love Him, it has rejected even wanting to know Him. They cannot see Him because they do not believe in Him. It is our responsibility, with Him within us, to woo others to Him so that they can see Him and believe in Him as well.

We are His advertisement to the world. What does the world see of God through us? Jesus said that if we love one another, by this, all will know that we are His disciples. (John 13:34-35) Does the world see a loving, accepting people?

Jesus called us to serve, to go as low as to wash one another's feet! (Mark 10:44-45) & (John 13:12-17) Does the world see a people eager to serve one another, and them?

Does the world see the fruit of the Spirit displayed in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control? (Galatians 5:22-23) Or do they see frazzled, worried people who react and become angry, just like them in tough situations? Do they see you, confident and loving, trusting in your Lord that all will work out for the good, (Rom. 8:28) or do they see someone fretting and gossiping and petty, living no differently than they do. Why should they desire to be a Christian if there is no difference?

"He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me." (John 14:24) When we obey His words we are obeying the Father. When we don't obey, we cannot be at one with Him. When we disobey, we pull back from the Oneness. We cannot be one with Him while we are in disagreement. Did you ever see your disobedience as having such serious consequences? Did you realize that when you disobey, you are pulling away from the Father and fracturing the whole? Did you realize that when you disobey, you distort the world’s view of God, like a fun house mirror distorts reality? When you disobey, the world sees you being human and sinful like them, they do not see God in all His glory. They do not see the difference Christ makes.

Remember, as a Christian, our life is His now. "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19B) Do not continue to try to drag Him into your life of sin, but let Him pull you into His life of glory. Leave the old life behind and move forward, seeking to become One with Him.

Hymn: "We Are One in the Spirit"

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