Believe!

Believe!

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1‭-‬3 NIV

The Inspiration:

These are the words of Jesus to his disciples, just before he went to the cross. These men had left all they had and knew, and followed Jesus for years. It was not immediately apparent what they stood to gain from following this man; it wasn't as if they had any physical possession to show for the long service, or even public acceptance. They were loved and hated by many, but there was peace and quiet confidence in the One they had come to trust and follow. They had heard him teach and preach, and they had also seen the mighty miracles he did. Now, the man they had come to know and love told them He was leaving, and even in the most distressing way: dying on a cross. They would have been troubled in their hearts, wondering: "where do we go from here?" The verses above provide answers to some knotty questions. At the top of the verses is the message of peace: "Do not let your hearts be troubled". How easy it is to say, when all is fine around you. What of the times when things get so tough that it is hard to breathe?

The Contention:

This season of fear and uncertainty makes the message in today's verses even more poignant. There is so much violence around us; wars and rumours of wars, and man's inhumanity to man keeps getting worse but the words of Jesus today tells us not to be troubled. If indeed my heart will be at peace, it has to have a foundation of peace. Peace comes from the personal experience of the Prince of peace. You cannot have real peace outside of the One who speaks, and even storms obey Him. When he tells not to allow my heart to be troubled, it is because He has provided the cure to worry and anxiety. He tells me to believe in Him, just as I would believe in God the Father. He tells me that the situations of today are only for a season, and will not last forever. Nothing on this side of eternity is permanent; only that which is of and from God is guaranteed to stand the test of time. I may have had a terrible past; maybe  the present also has its own challenges, but the future is critical; there is nothing down here that is a close resemblance to what God has promised up there with Him. 

The Conclusion:

The promise is an eternity with God, when this present earth passes away. It does not matter how long you have lived for, or how long you still have to live; the years that are past are nothing to be compared with the endless life that is ahead. The One who promises will know what he is talking about, because he gave his life to secure this life for me. He wants me to be with Him forever; therefore, this present life is preparation for eternity. Of course, you can't give what you don't have, and you cannot promise something that is not yours to control or command. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; therefore, He is able to give life. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for as many as would believe in Him, and he will return one day soon to take with Him all who have believed to the end. Have I truly believed in Jesus? Remember, this is one encounter that you cannot afford to fake. It must be genuine, and it must be the reality of my life until such time when God returns to take me home. Am I truly ready? Are you? God's time of favour is here.