1 John 3:21-24

If we stand back to get the bigger picture, we see a design theme to what John is building in this epistle: 1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. The apostle fills his building with hints and accents of the sense of imminence, of a breath held in anticipation, of expectation that the Lord is right at the door. His hand of readiness is in the air, and when it drops the angel will blow the trumpet call, the door will open, and we the children of God will step through that rapture portal in space and time and directly into the light of the glory of His presence and there will receive our reward at His Bema Seat! There is sharp anticipation of joy, alongside a desire and urgent motivation to be found in that instant pleasing in our attitude and in action, doing the things that are good and right and commanded by the Lord. Self and its priorities necessarily fade.