1 John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life– this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us– we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John says, “We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” I don’t think that they did not have joy. I wonder if the essence of what he is saying is that the more fully the body of Christ is in its understanding of the mysteries of Christ, the more our joy is complete. Ignorance is not always bliss. When we think incorrectly about something, or when we don’t understand something, we often feel frustrated.
A buddy of mine was telling me a story about how him and his wife were driving home one night on the interstate and this car pulled along side of them and blocked them in behind an eighteen wheeler. When he had the chance to get out of there he gunned it and got in front of them. Several miles later the same thing happened again and he started wondering if this other car was messing with him. After the fourth time of it happening he was mad. He gunned it for several miles and then got off at the next exit and pulled into a gas station. While at the pump he sees the car that was harassing him pull of the exit and pull up to the pump next to him. At this point he is bowed up and ready for a confrontation and starts walking up to the car. The doors of the car open and four older ladies get out laughing and having a good time and don’t even notice my friend approaching them. He quickly realized that they had no idea of what they were doing. They weren’t messing with him they were just driving and having a good time with one another and never even noticed him stuck behind and eighteen wheeler. Once he got passed the adrenaline and anger, he and his wife had a good laugh at the situation.
We can find ourselves in the same situation as my buddy and his wife when we believe the wrong things about Christ. We can find ourselves angry forcing our way through situations because of our wrong beliefs. But the situation was nothing like he imagined and what a joy it was when he had a more complete knowledge of the truth.