Jump Start # 1891

1 John 3:4 “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”

Three times in this chapter, 1 John 3, “everyone” is used. It is first found in verse 3, where we read, “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Our verse, verse 4, follows. Everyone who practices sin. Then deeper in the chapter we come to verse 15. It says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer…”

Everyone. Everyone who hopes. Everyone who practices sin. Everyone who hates. There isn’t any exemptions found in these verses. You can’t hate your brother and be ok with God. You can’t practice sin and get a Heavenly pass. Everyone. That includes apostles and preachers. That includes people back then and folks today. That includes you and it includes me. Everyone.

Some hope. Some sin. Some hate. Why is it that way? Why are some so mean and others are not? Why do some follow Christ and others want nothing to do with Him?

There are two lessons from this.

First, we are the way we are because we choose to be. A person doesn’t have to hate. Some do, others don’t. It’s not that some have had a privileged life and others had to struggle. You’ll find haters in both groups. Some hate because they grew seeing others hate. Most hate because they don’t know Jesus. They don’t realize that hate is a choice. Hating someone usually does more damage to the hater than it does to the one who is hated. Sour, mean and miserable are at the core of most haters.

But the same could be said of hope. John’s hope is a Biblical hope. It’s founded upon Christ. It’s not four leaf clovers, crossed fingers and wishing upon a star. Bible hope is sure and absolute. It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when. Hope to be with Christ. Hope for a resurrection. The hope of Heaven. Why do some have this? Choice. They have chosen to follow Christ and hope is something that comes with that. Hope gets us through ugly days and hard times. Hope reminds us of the love of Christ. Hope stands along side of faith. Hope brings sunshine to gloomy days. Some have chosen hope.

We, likewise choose to sin. We are not forced into that. We are not without other choices, especially since God provides a way of escape. Everyone who practices sin only sees the short sighted pleasure of sin. They don’t dwell upon the consequences of sin. They don’t see the path of destruction that sin leaves. Why choose sin? It’s easy. It’s fun. Everyone, just about, does it.

Second, it takes a lot of courage to do what is right. The easy thing is to do what “everyone” else is doing. It’s hard to swim upstream in a downstream world. It’s hard to have the right attitude when all around you is the wrong attitude. It’s hard to think good of someone when others are hating that same person. The person who chooses to follow Christ, not only has chosen the best option, but he often stands alone. He may be hated for not hating. He may be sinned against for not sinning with others. The pressure is on. This is especially hard for young people who are trying to be liked and fit in. This is hard for the college student. I remember long ago, while in a dorm at Purdue University, getting ready to go to church services on Sunday morning. There were a lot of guys up. They were in the bathroom throwing up because they had gotten so drunk the night before. They were throwing up in toilets, urinals, sinks, trash cans and often just on the floor. The sight was ugly. The smell was worse. Those sick students made some grand promises on those Sunday mornings. They’d swear off drinking. They’d promise never to do that again. They felt so bad. Yet, by the next weekend, those same ones were drinking away. Come Sunday, I’d step over them as I tried to find a sink to use. Seeing those guys puking all over the place was enough for me. I didn’t see anything good in that. I didn’t go to those parties. I didn’t hang around with those guys. Now, all these years later, I do not look back and think, “Man, I sure missed out.”

Following Christ is a choice. You have to make it yourself. You often have to make that choice even within your family. You have to decide whether or not you will join the haters, the sinners or those that have hope. There is a price for each. There are consequences that come with each. Your reputation is built upon these choices. People will know you for what you have chosen. Honesty, dependability and faithfulness are noticed. But so is hating, being mean and being critical.

We sing a song, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” Will you? Will you, even when it’s hard? Will you, even when “everyone” else is doing the opposite? Will you if you have to stand alone?

Everyone hopes. Everyone hates. Everyone sins. Which everyone are you with? Don’t hang your hat on your circumstances or your up brining. You make up your mind what you will be.

I have decided to follow Jesus…

Roger