I John 2:17-29  "And the world is passing away.. ."  Here is the bottom line.. the vital truth.. the reason we need to listen to what John has to say.. because we do not know what tomorrow holds.. we do not even know what today holds!  As the writer of Hebrews wrote.. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts... "  Yesterday is gone.. Tomorrow is not promised.  We can only live for today.. and Hebrews 3:12-13 warns us "Take care, brethren, lest there be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today' lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." 

John is giving us that same warning.  There is in this world those who are anti-Christ.  John said, even back then, that "many antichrists have arisen.."  They had once claimed Christ, but they left Him and His church. They were... and are... out to deceive those who belong to Jesus.  They are liars. They deny Jesus and they deny the Father.  We do indeed need to "take care". 

John reminds us that we do not fight this battle alone.. "But you have an anointing from the Holy One and you all know.. "  God has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us in the truth.  The Spirit is the One who teaches us.  He provides the Truth so that we are not deceived by the lies.  We must continue to abide in Him. Again that takes us back to 1:3. that idea of "fellowship".. partnership and intimate communion with the Son and the Father.. and each other.  We abide.. we continue, dwell, endure.. be present.. stay.. in fellowship with our Lord by His Spirit with Whom we have been anointed. It is only in the constant abiding that we are kept from the deceivers!

Yes, the world is passing away .. but we have His promise.. "and this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life." (v25) 

Father, thank You for giving to us such great and precious promises!  You are the God of all grace and peace. You are the Righteous One. You are God.. alone.  We praise You. We honor You. We exalt You with humbled hearts.. realizing how poor and needy we are.. and yet .. You have "bestowed upon us"  such a great love! You have allowed us to know You.. to know the truth. You have given us Your Word.. You have saved us by the sacrifice of Your Beloved Son. You have redeemed us from our sins.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!  You have given to us Your Holy Spirit, to come along side us and to lead us in Your ways.  Thank You.  Now  Father,  we ask that You draw us ever closer to Your Presence. Teach us to read and study Your Word.. to abide in Jesus every day.. every "Today"..   We pray that we will have, by Your power, the strength to stand firm and to follow closely.. to walk as Jesus walked, to imitate Him is all we do and say, to the glory of Your Name. We ask this in the Mighty Name that is above all names.. the name of Jesus.  Amen.