But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:21
The grandchildren delightedly bring home their report cards and present them to their parents. So far, in the younger grades, they are making good marks, and their report cards make for good conversation among their parents and grandparents, as we discuss how each one is doing in each department. As the years go by, and as the lessons get harder and the teachers become more particular about who receives praise, we wonder how gladly the children will bring home those report cards. We hope, of course, that they continue to receive straight As all through school. If they don’t, they may become more reluctant to hand over the report cards. Our text points out that those whose lives reveal the presence of eternal life have no reason to hide their deeds; they will always have a good report card to show.
Our text speaks of deeds that are wrought in God. This, of course, refers to those deeds that the Holy Spirit enables us to do and that we perform in harmony with the Holy Spirit’s will. Of course, this refers to all of the good that we do, because, of ourselves, we are unable to do good. In the flesh dwells no good thing. But through the Spirit we are able to please God. This is why we can bring these things before the Light to be examined. The Light, of course, is the Lord Jesus. It is His eye that sees our deeds today, and it is His voice that will pass judgment on our deeds at His great Judgment Seat. Our desire is that our lives will be filled with those deeds that will receive His ‘Well done’ in that soon coming day. As we consider lives that are lived in the light, we must always look to our great Example, whose deeds were all wrought in God.
Jesus tells us that He is the truth. In contrast to the all inclusive liarhood of mankind, the Lord Jesus was true in all His actions, words, and thoughts. His truth stands, not only as a contrast to our inability to be completely honest, but as an anchor that we can trust in time and for eternity. The Gospels record much of His teaching, and as we study that teaching, we marvel at all that He said. Like the officers who came to arrest Him, we marvel at His authority. Like the people who flocked to hear Him, we marvel at His gracious words. Like the critics who sought to confound Him, we marvel at His wisdom. But above it all, we marvel that He was always true, and His words and deeds were true.
Witnesses in our courts are sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. As Christians, we ought to be as truthful. We have a great Example who has shown us how and bids us to do so. -Jim MacIntosh