Remember that famous scene where Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate? The Jewish High Priest's only comeback to Pilate's "What accusation do you bring against this man" was "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have brought him to you". Now Pilate is getting nervous, and enters into the Judgement Hall once again to talk to Jesus:
“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37 KJV)
What does it mean to be OF THE TRUTH??
You can see from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary that the word "of" denotes point of origin. Jesus is essentially saying that those who hear His voice, who believe in Him are "of" (proceeded from) the Truth, that is, GOD.
Those who believe in Jesus then, though outwardly appearing as others, have a different point of origin. They are literally not of this world:
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14
We are on solid theological ground here. Oh sure, we have bodies, earthly parents and DNA like everyone else, but spiritually, our true point of origin is in eternity, in the mind and heart of God our Father:
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:4)
This is why you don't fit in. This is why your pre-Christ life was lacking, but now is complete! You've discovered your purpose, your life's meaning! The world "hath hated them" (John 17;14) and instinctively knows that in some undefinable sense, we're not like them. They know we sin (and love to remind us of that fact), yet are unable to identify the source of our differentness.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (1 John 3:1)
and:
"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:26, 27)
Now you know why "all things work together for good" for those who love God. ALL THINGS, rich or poor, Cadillacs or Cancer, nothing can separate us from the love of God that He has shown in Christ Jesus! When Paul says "all things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21), he means it. Literally. O how sweet to trust in Jesus . .
Isn't He wonderful??
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