What does it mean to be a child of God? Merely being religious does not mean that one is a child of God. We become a child of God by means of spiritual rather than natural birth. Our faith is about more than getting saved or going to heaven - it is an invitation to live in a completely new way. Only when we have opened the heart and mind to the spirit of God can our real transformation begin. When we are reborn in God, we become like him and we are able to love as we ought. There is no room for selfishness, cruelty, unkindness, hatred, or morbid fear. As wonderful as it is to be a child of God, there is still more waiting for us - but it is a surprise! John admits that he does not know what we will ultimately become - only that it is wonderful. Let us cleanse our heart and mind of all that does not belong there and beg God in prayer to begin our transformation.

We hope and strive to become like Jesus, whom John the Baptist recognized him as the pure and holy one come to take away the sins of the world. As good and holy as John was, Jesus was even more so, and John was humble enough to rejoice in that. The sin of the world - our sin - is fear and selfishness. Jesus wants to set us free - free to love as he does. Heaven begins now while we still live.