“The Love God Hates” Part 1 1 John 2:12-17

“Once upon a time…” Remember how exciting those words used to be? They were the open door into an exciting world of make-believe; a world that helped you forget all the problems of childhood. Then—pow! You turned a corner one day, and “Once upon a time” became kid stuff. You discovered that life is a battleground…not a playground. And fairytale stories were no longer meaningful. You wanted something…REAL!  The search for something real isn’t new. It has been going on since the beginning of history. We’ve looked for reality and satisfaction in wealth, thrills, conquest, power, learning, and even religion. And truth be told, there is nothing inherently wrong with these experiences…except that on their own, they never really satisfy. For wanting something real and finding something real are two different things. This is where the apostle John’s epistles come in. Written centuries ago, these letters deal with a theme that's forever up-to-date: the life that is real.  John had discovered that satisfying reality is not found in things or experiences, but in a person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  And Jesus is the reality that we, too, can experience today.  So thanks for joining us on the Westside Sermons Podcast…I pray that God will speak to you through this journey of The Life That Is Real! - Pastor Nathan Cherry