SearchRecent ArticlesRecent
|
"Do not let your heart be troubled"
There are many ups and downs in our lives. As good as things may seem at any given moment, it won't be long before the storm clouds gather. Life can be hard -- and then it can be harder. There are going to be times when each of us find ourselves in situations that create great turmoil in our hearts, and shake us to the very core of our being.
There are a great number of different difficulties that can threaten our composure -- even to the point of undermining the foundations upon which we have built our comfort, confidence, and expectation. We don't often stop to calculate the possibilities for distress, and it is probably best that we don't -- because they are often just one little variable away from creating a new reality for our future. There is the ever-present potential for serious accidents and injury. There is the threat of the loss of our job, the loss of a friendship, the loss of physical capacity, or the loss of a loved one. There is the ever-present possibility of life-altering, or life-threatening illness -- including the current threat of a new virus, and all the serious physical, societal, and financial implications. There can be an overwhelming sense of debilitating fearfulness and uncertainty permeating a large portion of our society. As tempting as it may be to classify the current distress as 'unprecedented', a continual procession of similar -- and even far worse -- adversity has assailed mankind in wave upon wave throughout all of human history. Looking back, some moments may seem much worse than others -- but when we are in the thick of such a moment, it can seem quite hopeless. Each of us are going to face moments like this at different points in our lives. Sometimes we are very much alone when we face them -- other times we face them within a circle of loved ones and close friends -- and at times we face them collectively, as an entire nation or even as mankind at large. There is an overriding question in the midst of unsettling times; Is there a genuine answer, that will provide a rock-solid confidence in the face of any and all the difficulties we may face in this life? Is there a reliable remedy for the troubled soul? Or, are we doomed to flounder in empty cliches ('We'll get through this', 'We're in this together'), and the delusion of our own presumed 'resilience'? Is there anything we can be sure of in the face of troubling trouble? Jesus made a truly remarkable statement regarding this critical matter. It is a statement of profound simplicity -- penetrating through distractions, distortions, and delusions -- to the root cause of our agitation and distress.
Jesus does not offer a psychological evaluation of our thinking, He does not focus any attention whatsoever on the contributing circumstances, He does not encourage His followers to dig deep into themselves for inner strength and personal resolve. Jesus does not try to comfort His followers with the assurance that they are all in it together. Jesus deals directly with the core issue -- the underlying cause of our troubled minds, no matter when or what the crises may be.
In this simple statement of profound encouragement -- Jesus directs attention very specifically to the fundamental need of putting our trust in God. When it comes to being at peace in the face of adversity -- it is the way we view and respond to God that matters. This is at the heart of all that threatens the stability and security of our soul. When our heart is troubled -- this is the place we must begin, anything else is, at best, a futile attempt to manage painful symptoms. God is the creator, sustainer, and sovereign ruler over all of existence. If our view of Him is anything less -- we are setting ourselves up for distress and full-blown anxiety. God is at the center of everything, He alone is the all-important One. Every nation, every person exists according to His purpose and power alone.
God has revealed Himself to be righteous and just -- to be good, in the purest sense of the word. In revealing Himself to be holy and righteous, God has exposed our sinfulness. The difficulties and sorrows in this world are the result of our rebellion against God -- though we may try to blame others, the devil, or even God Himself.
To believe in God is not only to acknowledge His existence and authority, but it also includes embracing what He has clearly revealed about us. What God says about the human condition is not flattering -- in fact it is quite the opposite.
Our sin has alienated us from God. By nature each and every one of us is disobedient and disrespectful to our Creator. Our sin is against God -- and it has the most severe consequences.
There is the ultimate consequence of death -- and then eternal judgement.
We cannot believe in God apart from what He has clearly revealed about our plight. We cannot be selective in accepting what God has revealed. To believe in God -- is to be truly confident in the fullness of all His perfections -- no matter how bitter a pill some of His revelations may be for us to swallow.
But -- believing God also means accepting the gracious and loving provision He has made for sinners like you and me. A belief in God that frees us from the worst distress of the soul will always be accompanied by believing in His beloved Son.
We notice that Jesus does not stop with the need for us to trust in God -- He completes the statement with the need to trust in Himself as well. Believing in God is critical, but it is not enough -- in and of itself. There is the absolute necessity of believing in Jesus as well.
First of all, this is inevitable because Jesus is God. Jesus claimed to be equal with the Father. So, in a very real sense, we cannot believe in God and not believe in Jesus.
But secondly, it is necessary because of what Jesus has accomplished specifically on our behalf. Without Jesus atoning sacrifice on our behalf -- there is no hope of genuine forgiveness of our sins, deliverance from eternal condemnation, certainty of eternal life, and no hope of a reconciled personal relationship to God as His very own children. Apart from a right relationship to God, we cannot have genuine peace in the midst of any and all troubling times.
For those who have turned from their rebellion against God -- and by faith have come to Jesus alone to be saved from their sins -- there is a Divine promise of peace. Real peace cannot be experienced apart from personal peace with God.
Flowing from this reconciled relationship to God, there is a potential for the experiencing of a personal peace surpassing all human comprehension. (Philippians 4:7)
In the moment Jesus made this remarkable statement to His followers, He knew He was only hours away from facing extreme shame, abuse, anguish, and a horrifically painful death.
And yet He was deeply concerned for the genuine welfare of His followers. What a loving and caring Savior God has provided for undeserving sinners like us! After directing His followers to believe in Him, Jesus assures them of the genuine peace they could experience in Christ.
Do you have peace? Do you have peace that comforts your soul in the face of the most troubling of moments? Do you have peace that transcends anything that can be experienced by human means alone?
Maybe we could phrase the question a little differently: where is your peace?
If your peace is not in Christ -- it will eventually leave your soul stranded in the full force of the storm.
|
|
|
"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32
|
A Ministry of Free Grace Church
1115 Glenn St. Washington, IL 61571 |