If you’ve ever driven across South Dakota, you’ve seen the signs. Every few miles, another billboard:
“Homemade Ice Cream!”
“Free Ice Water!”
“Western Wear for the Whole Family!”
Before long, you start believing Wall Drug might just be the most important stop of the trip.

That’s exactly what happened on a recent family road trip through the Badlands. Our kids saw billboard after billboard and couldn’t care less about Mount Rushmore or the wide-open views. They just wanted to stop for maple-glazed donuts and jackalopes.

It’s a funny story, but it also carries a deeper spiritual truth: We live in a world full of signs.
Loud voices. Empty promises. Cultural noise calling for our attention.

And just like the Wall Drug signs, they can distract us from our destination. Wall Drug is a fun place with a rich history that’s brought joy to countless travelers—but it wasn’t our destination.

Staying the Course in a Noisy World

That’s where John steps in.
In 1 John 2, he writes to his “dear children” with urgency and affection. He’s not scolding. He’s warning—as a father would. He knows that if you lose sight of who Jesus truly is, you’ll get pulled off course.

He introduces a term that gets a lot of attention: antichrist—a word used only five times in Scripture, all by John. He writes:

“Even now many antichrists have come… They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.” (1 John 2:18-19)

John’s not talking about one future villain. He’s talking about a present danger.
People who once claimed to follow Christ but now distort Him.
People who redefine Jesus into someone more palatable, less powerful.
Not rejecting Christ, but replacing Him.

This, John says, is the spirit of the antichrist—anything that distorts, distracts, or diminishes the real Jesus.

The Antidote to the Antichrist

So what’s the antidote?

Abiding in Christ.
The Greek word menō appears 23 times in 1 John. It means to remain, stay, dwell, or continue—but even more, it means to be intimately connected. It’s the same word Jesus used in John 15 when He said:

“Abide in me, and I will abide in you… apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

Abiding isn’t about staying in place—it’s about staying close.
Staying rooted.
Staying dependent.

That’s why John says:

“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you… and this is what He promised us—eternal life.” (1 John 2:24-25)

Abiding isn’t a strategy. It’s a relationship.
And the closer we stay to Christ, the less power distractions have.

The Power of Identity

John builds on this with one of the most beautiful verses in all of Scripture:

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Let that sink in:
Not tolerated.
Not barely accepted.
Lavishly loved. Adopted. Named. Known.

Abiding in Christ starts with knowing your identity. You’re not just forgiven—you’re family.
You’re not defined by your failure—you’re defined by your Father.

Don’t stop at believing about God. Believe what God believes about you.

You are not a mistake. You are not a disappointment. You are not forgotten.
You are a child of God.

When You Know Who You Are, You Know Where You’re Going

Every day, we pass spiritual billboards—loud messages offering satisfaction, purpose, or truth. But when you know your destination, you don’t get pulled into detours.

You keep driving.
You stay focused.
Because you know what’s real.

John even goes further. He talks about sin—not as an isolated stumble, but as practiced rebellion.
The difference is critical. It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction.
Are you chasing holiness or justifying your sin?

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin… God’s seed remains in them.” (1 John 3:9)

That seed is the Holy Spirit.
And the Spirit doesn’t just help you abide in Christ—He abides in you.

A Living Example

One woman from our church, Becky, is walking through late-stage cancer. She’s planning her funeral, and yet she radiates life. Her peace is unshakable. Her joy is real. Her identity is secure.

Because Becky knows this truth:
She is a child of God.
And no diagnosis, no pain, no fear can take that away.

That’s the heart of 1 John 2 and 3.
It’s not about fear.
It’s not about trying harder.
It’s about staying close to the One who calls you beloved.

So What Now?

If you’re wondering how to fight deception, discouragement, or distraction, here’s the answer:

Abide in Christ.
Stay close.
Root yourself in His truth.
Anchor your identity in His love.

“The antidote to the antichrist is abiding in Christ.”

You are not alone.
You are not forgotten.
You are His.

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Message recap adapted from July 20, 2025, message by Minister Alex Ehly

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