Food for Thought by David Jackson

The right we have been given (John 1:12,13)

At least since the 60’s in this country people have insisted on claiming their “rights” on a host of issues. Some of them are constitutional rights, some are legal rights, some are civil rights, and some “rights” seem to have no basis at all, except “I” want whatever “I want” when I want it. Apparently if we yell loudly enough and insist long enough somebody somewhere will respond positively to whatever we want.

In that context, it should grab our attention when the Gospel of John declares that we have a right given by God. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Think about that for a minute. This right is God-given, so there is no power that can take it away, nothing that can cancel or threaten its validity. This right is given to “all who received him,” and no other qualification is listed. No one is excluded based on origin, family, race, status, standing in society, education, physical wholeness, or any other quality. The “all” is those who received Jesus as God’s one and only son, the light that shines in the darkness, who is the light and life of people, who is God and who created everything.

Did you catch the nature of this right that is God-given? “The right to become children of God” is not a natural occurrence; instead, it is something supernatural that only God can do. It is the only way to separate ourselves from being children of Adam and Eve, with the problem of sin that goes with it. It is a right that comes about in only one way: we are “born of God.” The eternal, infinite God acts in our world every time a human being believes in his name.

Face this new year with the knowledge—the conviction—that you are born of God, you are a child of God by his gift, and it is a right that cannot be taken away. In gratitude live before God as his beloved son or daughter, giving honor to your Father in all you do. It is an accomplished fact that you are his, one who has been “born of God.” 

Later in his writings John will give us the reassurance that we have overcome the evil spirits in the world: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). From another author, this is God’s promise from his own word: “’Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5,6).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!