The Only True God
Scripture:
“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. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”
—1 John 5:20–21 (NLT)
John closes his letter with a declaration that is both simple and staggering. Jesus Christ is the only true God, and He is eternal life. Not a path to God, not a teacher about God, but God Himself, come in the flesh. And because He has come, we now have something we did not have before. We have understanding. We can know the true God, not merely know about Him, but live in actual fellowship with Him. This is what Jesus came to make possible. Not just our forgiveness, but our knowing. If you want to understand the heart and character of God, look at Jesus. In Him you see compassion, grace toward sinners, patience beyond what anyone deserves, and a relentless desire to be in relationship with those He created.
That fellowship is not a future hope only. It is a present reality. John 17:3 tells us that eternal life is knowing the Father and the Son, not a destination we are waiting to arrive at, but a life we are invited into now. As we follow Jesus, surrender to His ways, and walk in step with His Spirit, we are living the life we were created for. And it is in that life, rooted in fellowship with the true God, that we find everything the world keeps promising and never delivering.
“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”¹ — Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods
Which is precisely why what John says next matters so much. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. Keller names what John is warning against. The things that compete for that central place are rarely evil in themselves. They are usually good things: work, relationships, security, reputation, comfort elevated too high. When a good gift begins to do the work that only the Giver can do, it has become an idol.
So take a moment today to ask the honest question. What is absorbing your heart right now? What are you looking to for the peace, the worth, the security that only God can give? Bring it to Him. He is not standing at a distance. He is as close as a prayer, always ready to be found by those who seek Him.
Reflection:
- What has Jesus helped you understand more clearly about the character and heart of God?
- Are there any areas where something good has quietly taken God’s place in your heart?
- How can you actively deepen your fellowship with Jesus this week?
Prayer:
Thank God for giving you understanding to know Him, the only true God, through Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything that is competing for first place in your heart, and pray for a renewed and singular devotion to the One who alone can give you what you truly need.
Footnote:
¹ Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods (New York: Penguin, 2009), xvii.