As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray 1 John 2:24-26
Remaining
Remaining can be a tricky thing. We most often associate moving on and change with courage and bravery, but sometimes it takes just as much (or more) strength to stay as it does to go. Remaining takes determination and resoluteness. Remaining is not being stuck, which produces hopelessness. Remaining is living with hope, knowing that God has a purpose and a plan for the waiting we are inand He is already working on it.
When John wrote those words above, there was all kinds of strife and upheaval in the church. There were false teachers spreading untruths and ideas about Jesus that were completely different than what they had been taught from the beginning. But John told them three things they needed to remember to remain in Christ:
• Remain – Stay. Don’t leave what is familiar to run to what sparkles. Be patient and diligent in prayer with God, not just asking or seeking directions, but completely handing the situation over to Him.
• Dwell – Dwelling is more than just staying. Dwelling is focusing on Him all day, every day. Dwelling is resting in God and staying close to Him.
• Abide – Abiding in Him is about living in Him and it is available to all believers. When we truly know Christ, we abide in Him. It is a close, intimate relationship with Him, not just a friendship. When we are abiding in Him, our life will reflect it in our obedience to Him.
By remaining, dwelling, and abiding in Him, we find stability and peace. We experience the everlasting promises that will never change but remain constant for all who have a relationship with Him. Our place in Christ is where we can run then it all seems impossible. The world is in an upheaval today. It has made what is right seem wrong and what is wrong seem right. This is not God’s way and we are warned against this in Isaiah 5:20: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
When we remain, dwell, and abide in Him, we are protected from the ones who teach false teachings as truth. It is clear to us what is false when we know the truth. We can know the truth by remaining in the truth - Jesus. We can know the truth by dwelling in Him - Jesus. We can know the truth by abiding in Him – Jesus.
