Keep Your Eyes Open to Truth

Read 1 John 2:18-23.

In order to combat the temptation to stray from God’s will, to overcome the aspects of our lives where we feel at odds with God, the apostle John gives us three directives. In 1 John 2, he first admonishes us to avoid “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (v. 16), which we examined yesterday. Today we’ll consider the second instruction: Keep your eyes wide open.

John wants us to come to terms with the fact that we’ll always be involved in a battle for the Truth this side of heaven. That battle never takes a holiday, never sleeps—and it’s a battle we must win. So John warns us that while there is an Antichrist, there are also many antichrists in the plural. Their job is to harden our hearts toward God and toward Truth to prepare us to receive the big lie of the Antichrist. These antichrists preach pluralism, compromise, and tolerance of sin. They oppose Christ, denying His divinity and convincing the masses that all religions are the same. Then the singular Antichrist will outlaw the Christian faith. So we must keep our eyes wide open for those who preach a false gospel—those antichrists in the plural who are paving the way for the Antichrist with a capital A. They aren’t out in the world but in churches where they soothe us for the kill. They try to woo us away from the Truth and into doubt. They try to manipulate and intimidate the faithful into shutting our mouths.

But there’s good news! As God’s blood-bought children, we have His anointing (see 1 John 2:20). We have His grace, power, and authority. And we don’t stand alone; indeed, we are filled with the very Spirit of God. So, when you are tempted by fear, don’t give in. When you are tempted by weariness, go to the Word for spiritual refreshment. Keep your eyes on the Truth and hold fast, for “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (v. 23).

Prayer: Lord, thank You for preparing me for adversity through Your Word—both its warnings and encouragements. Grant me discernment to cling tightly to Your Truth and be bold to confront false teaching. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.