1 John 2:28: Confidence At His Coming

1 John 2:28
[28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. (ESV)

When I was a child there were times that my father would assign me a task that was to be done by the time that he came home from wherever he may have been going.  I may or may not have liked the task that was assigned to me, but one thing is certain; I did not want him to come home to find that I had not been diligent in doing what he asked of me.

My father is a good father.  I knew that he loved me.  He had expectations of me that were very appropriate.  He believed that if we had a loving relationship that one of the ways that I would show him that I loved him was to do what he said.  Isn't it interesting that our Heavenly Father feels very much the same way?  If we love him, we will obey him.  The Apostle John actually tells us that in this very epistle:

1 John 2:4
[4] Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, (ESV)

So, let's consider our verse for today.  John encourages us to abide in him, so that when our Savior returns we will not be ashamed at his coming.  Imagine the shame I would have had when my earthly father came home if I had not done what he had asked me.  Instead of looking forward to his return I would have been in fear of his rebuke.

Believer in Jesus Christ, how you live each day matters very much.  He has given us instruction on what we are to be doing before he returns.  If we have done nothing to obey his instructions how are we going to be anxious to greet him when he comes?  So many people live their daily lives as if the Savior is never returning.  Do you want to have reason to not shrink from him in shame when he returns?  Abide in Him!  Be living a daily walk in his presence and in obedience to his word. Consider again his final words he gave to us before he left this earth:

Matthew 28:19–20
[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)