There are certain moments a father never forgets. One of the sweetest memories of my young children occurred when I came home after work. Immediately, my children would drop whatever they were doing and scream “Daddy’s home” while running full speed into my kneecaps. Though I came home everyday, they greeted me as if I had been lost at sea for the past year and unexpectedly found my way back.
Such exciting greetings were the norm for a while, at least until they got to the pre-teen stage. But, every once in a while, one of them would act different. Rather than beaming with excitement at my return, they would recoil with reservation. Instead of running full speed into my arms, they would continue playing with their toys and pretend they didn’t notice I was home.
Such behavior usually meant someone got into an abnormal amount of trouble that day. My children find trouble everyday, but some days they are exceptionally disobedient, which caused my wife to drop the dreaded words: “I’m going to tell your dad when he gets home.”
Rather than anticipating my arrival, they would shrink in shame. As a father, there’s nothing that breaks your heart more than when your children’s disobedience breaks such sweet fellowship opportunities.
Rightful Fear of a Holy God
John encourages his readers in 1 John 2:28: “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”
As much as I love my children, my love pales in comparison to God’s love for his children. If my heart breaks when disobedience causes my children to shrink in shame, I can’t imaging the grief it causes the Lord when we shrink in shame rather longing for fellowship with him.
Shame is a powerful tool of the enemy and the reason he continues to lodge powerful accusations against us. If he can get us to shrink from the Lord in shame, then he can make us feel too guilty to pray, read the Word, serve and attend a local church, etc. Shame causes us to avoid anyplace where we might encounter a holy God.
Fear of a holy God is a rightful fear for sinners. However, the good news of the gospel is that we can repent and confess our sin, and that same holy God who fills us with dreadful fear is faithful and just to forgive us. The atonement of Christ has taken the penalty so we can, with confidence, enter God’s presence: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God sent his Son so that believers don’t have to shrink in fear at his presence.
The Shame Breaker
Rather than shrinking in shame, John encourages his readers to abide in Him. To abide is to continue or remain. We can’t abide in God’s presence if we are shrinking in shame. If we don’t understand and apply the gospel daily, we will not have confidence when he appears. As we continually take our sin to the cross, we find the mercy and grace to confidently fellowship with the Lord.
The joy of having my children long for my arrival and greet me with excitement is a memory I’ll never forget. Our loving Father desires that we, too, would anticipate the coming of Christ and long for that day when we will enjoy fellowship with him unhindered by sin. His heart breaks when we are not walking in the freedom and confidence of the gospel and we let shame and guilt cause us to fear his coming.
God has provided a fountain of grace for those who are thirsty enough to repent and believe. Let us not be those who shrink in shame.
Great article, so grateful for God’s amazing grace. I am also thankful for the good writing of Pastor James.