Pondering

Don't you just love it that a good pastor, teacher, preacher can take something you have read over and over and bring new life to it through the Holy Spirit? We have been in 1 John and just finishing the first book. Todd (pastor) was emphasing how John used the word True, three times in the second to last sentences.

1 John 5:19-20 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV) (boldface and italics-my input)

19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Jesus is God "the way, the truth and the life". He is life, He is truth, He is eternal, He is real, He is genuine, He is not false, phony, or fake.
The last verse states:

1 John 5:21

21Dear children, keep(guard) yourselves from idols

When I used to read this I almost thought it seemed out of context but seeing it afresh...next to all the 'true' statements, it made sense.

Idols are false, phony, fake...they are not able to do what God can do. They also come between us and the real God. Anything that causes us to be separated from God can be an idol. Ideas even can be idolotrous. Things of course can...anything that we hold up to give us meaning, security, (peace), etc...(things only God can provide) can be idols to us. For me it can be food. Searching for calmness...or satisfaction in something that cannot provide it. Or it can be money...having just enough to feel secure. We should get our security from God not from our things/money.

Just wanted to write that down when I was pondering it. Truly the sermon, lesson, was about so much more but I wanted to write that down because I always pondered why that last verse was there. And it emphasized its truth.

And that's the truth, Ruth.