The Reason Why the World Does Not Know Us
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1
The ways of God seem foreign to the world.
I would like to comment on the second part of this verse first because of something that happened to me last week. As I’m sure you’re aware, there is much furor in our country over same-sex marriage, its acceptance by some, and whether not accepting it is a form of hateful bigotry. Businesses owned by Christians who declined to work for same-sex weddings on the fear of condoning an event which they consider to be immoral are being successfully sued and fined, which has led to the debate of whether Christians in the United States of America have the freedom to follow the dictates of their religion and conscience. Last week I found myself in a conversation with an individual who obviously was not a Christian and was very much a proponent of same-sex marriage and homosexual rights. When I pointed out that my rights as a Christian to follow the dictates of my religion were in danger of being ignored and that I could even be punished for following my religion, he responded with nothing but disdain.
So I understand when John tells me, “The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” Our society is becoming more and more godless. Less young people now than ever before identify themselves as religious, much less as Christian. My fellow Americans who are trying hard to be faithful Christians and have been used to living in a society where more people than not identified with Christianity, we must recognize that we are coming closer and closer to living in a culture in which people will not know (understand) us as faithful Christians…and the reason for this is because they do not know (understand) our God.
Yet…we are still God’s children. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…” We are still children of the Most High God. Jehovah has still saved us by his love and grace. We still have the undeserved, highest honor of wearing the name “Christian” (1 Pet. 4:16). We are still heaven-bound. We still serve a greater Cause, in fact the greatest Cause. Whatever persecution comes our way, let us rejoice and be glad for it, because it comes because we are servants of Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:10-12; James 1:2-4).