1 John 3:1-3 What We Will Be

Observation: John writes to his community about the honor of being called God's children, and what it means for their future. Just as with the Gospel of John (probably by the same author or same community), the theme of Jesus being "revealed" and of "seeing him" is central. What's unique about this passage is the assertion that when we see Jesus as he is (at the end of our earthly lives), we will "be like him". 

Application: Last night, as the cold, dark spookiness of Halloween settled in, I watched an episode of The Twilight Zone on Netflix. It featured an old woman living alone, afraid to let anyone in, for fear that whoever it was would be Death in disguise. After being seriously wounded on the street, a police officer comes to her door (played by a much younger, and frankly man-crush-worthy Robert Redford). Reluctantly, she lets him in. After a long conversation, she befriends the officer only to realize her worst fear was in fact true--that he does, indeed, represent death--but it's not a fear anymore. Death has become a merciful friend, ready to take her into whatever is next. It wasn't scary at all. 

This All Saints' Day, I'm thinking about those who have gone before me, especially those who have put their trust in God. Their witness reminds me that death is not something to be feared: in fact, in Jesus, death is the gateway to resurrection and eternal life. I think based on the Bible, we can be a little bit humble about what we can know about it. John says "We are God's children now, what we will be has not yet been revealed." How will death feel? What will resurrection look like? We just don't know, and it would be foolish to pretend we do. Our only clue is Jesus, whom the Bible calls "the first born from the dead." And we know he told us not to be scared. 

We can give thanks for the examples of people who have lived and died before us. We can celebrate them, and know they are not afraid or in pain. We can trust God with the rest--including all the days we have left.

Prayer: God, thank you for the people who formed us, and have moved on. Thank you for the promise of your resurrection. Be with all those today who are afraid of death, or who are near death, that their hearts may be calm and open. Help us to see you as you are, and be open to the transforming work of your Spirit, who will make us like you. Amen.