We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 5:19 – 21.

So John brings his letter to a conclusion by stating again a fact that is basic to all spiritual understanding, that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

We might ask, is that really true?  Is there no good in people who do not know Jesus Christ?  John does not even address this issue.  He certainly recognizes that there is some goodness in all cultures and philosophies.  I think we all do.  That is not the point, the point is that there are two worlds, that made up of unredeemed unbelievers who are under the control of the evil one and those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ and are living as redeemed persons.  It is as stark as that. 

As we look out upon life, we see many things in this world that do not seem all that bad, in fact there are some good things happening among unbelievers, their kindness, commitment, humor and so on.  This world tends to allure us away from Jesus.

The idols our societies erect seem more desirable than Jesus, God’s saving Son.  John warns, in closing this amazing letter, Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.  He concludes with that appeal to all who believe in Jesus Christ, beware of idols.  Our cultures in the West do not speak much of idols.  In John’s days, they were more palpable, and visible, probably.  That is not that idols are no more, certainly not.  We have just renamed them!

John is not oversimplifying; he is stating truth upon which all followers of Jesus stand.  And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

 May John’s reminder be my daily challenge, until I see Jesus face to face.