Rabbit Trails

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." - John 3:16-18

I preached on this passage a few Sundays ago–for a very different reason than the obvious.  Tagging off of a few articles I had read, I’m did a message on the things that Jesus didn’t die for, but as I did my study for the sermon, my mind went off on a rabbit trail. It frequently does. Sometimes rabbit trails are good. Occasionally they are bad. Some might be deadly.  But they are almost always interesting.

Looking at the passage from John 3, I think it is safe to say that we all know verse 16.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  What always jumps out at me is the clause in the sentence.  Whosoever believes. You see its not automatic.  It’s really not unconditional because there is a condition. Belief.

You see I’ve long wanted to be a universalist. That is one of the bad rabbit trails that I want to meander on. Wanting to believe that anyone and everyone gets into the thing called eternal life. I’ve admitted that in sermons and in other writings. But the clause in verse 16 always sends me into a mini depression. Because what I want to believe seems to be countered by that verse. The aforementioned rabbit trail ends here. And a realistic trail begins.

Oh verse 17 offers a bit of relief. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  I like that. It reveals the very heart of our Father in heaven.  Jesus came to save…not condemn.  For years, admittedly, I stopped at that verse because it seems to take the harsh edge that I feel verse 16 contains. Especially if one wants to trot on the universalist trail.

But…

Verse 18 lowers the boom.  “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Darn (language cleaned up).  Not only is belief a condition of salvation, but those who do not believe...already stand in condemnation.

Those who know me understand that I actually derailed off the universalism track back in 1990 when I wrestled with John 14:6; but verses like John 3:18 should troubles my heart. And it should trouble yours. It’s devastating. Because you and I know people – perhaps close family members -  who do not believe. People we deeply love, people perhaps we have a profound respect for, perhaps a neighbor who has shown a time or two or twelve how good a neighbor they can be.

It’s easy to dismiss the people who rub us the wrong way, but we shouldn’t do that either. All stand condemned by a loving but just God for the lack of belief.  All.

My hope is that sorrow might drive us.  God does so love the world that he gave his one and only Son. In a similar way we need to so love the world…that we share with people what Jesus did do, not just us, but for them. If they so believe.

Who do you know who needs to know this inconvenient truth (to borrow a phrase). Minimally, who do we need to be praying for we know…does not believe. Yes there are other steps we need to take, but the most important thing to do is pray.  Think of someone now. Lift their names up to the Lord. Call, beg,  plead, upon the Holy Spirit to intervene.

And then ask the Spirit to lead you on a good trail that might be of help to those you have just prayed for. Sometimes rabbit trails are good. Occasionally they are bad.

Some…might be deadly.