Eyewitness Wisdom

1 John 5:20-21 (NLT)

²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
²¹ Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

What precious verses we find at the end of 1 John! It's so wonderful to read the words written by one who was an eyewitness of Jesus! John walked with Him...knew he was loved by Him...sat and listened as He taught...broke bread with Him...spoke with Him face to face...touched Him...watched Him heal...saw Him transfigured... John said Jesus did so many things that if they were written down, the whole world could not contain all the books that would be written. John knew Jesus.
Let's pull out the points he makes to us in verse 20:
~ The Son of God has come.
~ He has given us understanding so we can know the true God.
~ We live in fellowship with the true God, because we live in fellowship with Jesus.
~ He is the only true God.
~ He is eternal life.
Can we even wrap our human minds around how BIG these truths are? Should our rejoicing ever cease? What privilege that we are able to know Him! John goes on to add one final verse in this his first letter to the church. "Keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." 
"Anything that might..."
"What are you talking about?  I'm not going to let anything have God's place."
"Anything that might..."
"Wait a minute, are you judging me?"
"Anything that might..."
We should listen closely to John's words to us. He knew what it was to walk with Jesus in the flesh. He witnessed the crucifixion and the resurrected Christ. And, he knows how easily we can be led astray. The things we give a second glance today could be our idols tomorrow. Be careful.