You can’t ask for what you already have
by Shane Altmann
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God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:11b,12).
Read 1 John 5:4–12
Let’s take a moment for a bit of ‘me time’.
Think of that thing, that object, that highly desirable and unattainable thing that you wish you had. No, not a healthy family or world peace – they are a given. I mean actual stuff.
A huge TV, one of those massive tool chests with drawers full of cool tools, a whole mechanics workshop, a fancy KitchenAid mixer with all the attachments, a new kitchen, a new house, a house on the beach, a bigger boat, a huge boat, one of those boats that you have to leave in the water it’s so big. Your fantasy, you choose.
Now, imagine you turn up at home this afternoon, and there it is. Wrapped up with a fancy bow.
‘What is that?’ you ask. ‘Can I have it?’
‘It’s already yours,’ says the giver.
You can’t ask for what you already have.
When you receive a gift, you have two choices: you can say ‘thank you’, or you can say, ‘Get that mega yacht off my driveway.’
Our focus verse today reminds us, yet again, that God is the author of our faith, the giver of eternal life. It’s always God-work.
God has given us eternal life. God is the architect and builder of our everlasting joy. God is the one who, even now, is preparing a place for us with him in paradise, that heavenly home, with him and together with the saints before us, that blessed reunion. Hallelujah and thank you, Jesus.
And it is that precious treasure, that certain hope of something better, with which we overcome the world. Yep, we can suffer and struggle, times can be difficult, and everything can feel like it is slipping away, but we are more than conquerors through Christ. Our reading today reminds us that our faith, given by God, is that instrument, that victory.
And here’s the heart of it: that’s enough. We don’t need a mega yacht or a fancy toolbox. The Christian life, that simple existence with Jesus, comforted by his word, in fellowship with other believers and the people we love, active in service in the world, called to have a crack and serve as best we can. Well, that’s enough.
Jesus, thank you for coming into the world because of your great love for us. Thank you for living a fully human life. You understand us and know exactly how life feels. We praise you, Lord, that by your Holy Spirit and because of your great redeeming work and precious blood, you call us to yourself. Thank you for giving us eternal life. Bless us as we do our best in this life. In your name, we pray. Amen.
Shane Altmann is the principal of Faith Lutheran College Redlands in Queensland and has served in education for more than 35 years. Married to Monica and father of two children, Harry and Zoe, Shane has learnt that he is largely helpless without the love and support of the people with whom he lives and works. A pilgrim of multiple Caminos de Santiago, a Penrith Panthers tragic and a restorer of old stuff, Shane loves a project and, when he is able, fills his days tinkering with something.
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