“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14………..
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4………….
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3…………
Can you fathom what John is saying in the first set of scriptures above? That Jesus Christ, who wasn’t just with God, but who is God, who is Lord, came to the earth in the flesh such that those alive back then “beheld His glory”? Can you imagine according to the second set of scriptures that Christ’s disciples back then could HEAR HIM, could SEE HIM, could LOOK UPON HIM, and could HANDLE HIM, i.e. touch Him? Is this not astounding? Amazing? Awesome? Breathtakingly phenomenal? To have been able to hear, see, look upon, and handle the Lord God? Is there any greater joy in the world than to be in the presence of the Lord, to be loved by Him, to love Him, to draw ever closer to Him, to be in His company, His fellowship, to be His child and servant, to be in intimate relationship with Him forevermore? No! John said he was writing so their joy would be full.
But how can our joy be full today, this very day, and all the days to come while we remain on this earth, and forever? Christ died on the cross and was raised from the dead to pay our sin penalty so all who repent and believe in Him as Lord, who believe He died for us and was resurrected, who truly commit our lives to Him, are forgiven by God and given everlasting life. But that means we can’t have the greatest joy in the world until our lives on earth are over and we’re in heaven with Jesus, right? Wrong!
For those who follow Christ, who live for Him, who are truly dedicated to God and His ways, have an everlasting relationship with God. Everlasting. Eternal. Forever. Not just in heaven. Now, too. Every single day. We are given forever fellowship with Christ. We are loved by Him, we love Him, we live for Him, we live with Him, His Spirit lives in us, we grow in God’s image, we grow closer and closer to Jesus, we come to know Him more and more, we cling to Him, we cleave to Him, we grasp Him, we fellowship with Him, we spend time with Him, we love and adore Him, we hear and obey Him, we honor Him, we revere Him, we worship Him, we praise Him, we enjoy relationship with Him, we bow down before Him as Lord, and we are His children, God is our Father, we are brought into His sheepfold, we are His sheep, we rest in Him, abide in Him, we are filled with Him, we ask for the baptism of His Spirit if we have not already received it, as this can be subsequent to receiving Christ as Lord, so we are empowered by Him, equipped by Him, we breathe for Him, we live to glorify Him, it’s all about Him, God, God in Christ, the Lord who is ours, and we are His, and oh, the joy, the joy, the utter unfathomable, immeasurable, indescribable joy of even though we cannot yet see Him physically, though one day we shall, we are still His, His now, by faith we draw ever closer to Him, and Him to us, oh what joy, to behold His glory!
Please don’t miss this. Please don’t if you follow Jesus wait for heaven to enjoy, to rejoice, to celebrate, the forever relationship with Christ we are given when we are willing to die to self, to forsake our own agendas and ways, and we follow Jesus wherever He leads us, learning all along the way to experience the magnificence of God’s glory in Christ whose we become. And, if you don’t yet have a forever relationship with God, may this be the day, and hour, you humble yourself before Him, repent of your sins, and place your faith in Him as Lord, receiving God’s forgiveness and entering into Christ’s forever fellowship. Oh, glory be to the Lord! Hallelujah! Amen!
Please look at the third scripture. Please don’t miss this. Please don’t miss eternal life. For there is NOTHING more joyful in the entire universe than knowing, and being known by, than loving, and being loved by, God almighty through the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh, hallelujah, all glory to the Lord!