As we continue to emerge from this last fifteen months, which have been strange to say the least, a question we may well need to ask ourselves is this: Where is our security?
For many it has been a period of fear and isolation and a new lifestyle with all kinds of restrictions. Some restrictions have even been self- inflicted, saying I will not go out until all have been vaccinated etc. Well one might have to wait for that for a long time. As God’s people, without being foolish and fool hardy, life does go on and we must put our trust in Him.
In the Gospel of John chapters 14 -16 we have the final discourse of Jesus to his Disciples, preparing them not only for his death and resurrection, but saying that in the future they will have troubles. He encourages them that despite the troubles that lie ahead He has overcome the world. The same will be true for us, we will also have trials and tribulations, but as it was for the disciples, Jesus assures us He has overcome the world. John 16 verse 33 says: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
In these passages from John we are given some assurances from Jesus.
John 14: Comfort offered.
I am returning to my Father in heaven to prepare a place for you.
I will return to take you to be with Me forever.
In the meantime, I will send The Holy Spirit to be with you.
John 15: Commitment demanded.
A call to serve God.
There will be trouble ahead.
John 16: You will have trouble ahead.
You will face all kinds of troubles.
Be of Good cheer I have overcome the world.
In John 14 verses 1-6 Jesus shows us that when we accept Him as the way the truth and the life we are assured of a place in Heaven. The reality is that one day we will all die of something, but when we have faith and salvation we are assured of a place in Heaven. A friend of mine recently died rather suddenly, but just before she said to her family: “It is ok for I am going to see and be with Jesus.” Her trust in Jesus was greater than the cancer she was dying from.
Moving on, we are not called to take foolish risks in life, but to know Jesus takes away fear of dying and allows us to live a life and not be totally cocooned till the inevitable happens. In John 10: 10 Jesus says we have an abundant life in Him and are to live it out to the full. Jesus goes on to say that He is preparing a place for us and at our appointed time He will call us Home.
In John 14 verses 7-14, Jesus talks of a relationship we can have with Him and our heavenly Father. And when we consider His faithfulness we need not fear. Psalm 23… speaks of how even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil’. For He (Jesus) is with us. It goes onto say we shall live with Him forever. So, despite what we go through the best is yet to come, and in the meantime, He will sustain us through the good and the not so good.
1 John 4: 18 says: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” We all face fearful moments but ultimately as Christians we need not fear what this world holds for us, for we are secure in Christ.
So, what is Fear? It so often worked out in an acrostic: false evidence appearing real.
Moving on into John 15, Jesus talks of the problems that lay ahead of us. In John 15: 18-27, Jesus warns us of troubles ahead – that we will be ridiculed for speaking out for Him, but He will give to us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter and enabler. So let us widen out this phrase: “there may be trouble ahead” It will come in the form of persecution, sickness, pestilence etc.
So even as things get worse in the world, we can still have Joy in Christ. Perhaps the greatest challenge we face is: how do we deal with the hardships of life? One place we can look is the life of Job, a man that had everything, lost everything and gained it all back twice over. So what was his secret in dealing with suffering?
The trials of Job..
Few have suffered more than Job. Yet he never curses or moans at God. The ultimate cause of our suffering is often self inflicted, and often due to our foolishness. We cannot blame God for sickness caused by a dirty kitchen. What caused Covid we cannot be sure? other than that we live in a fallen world. How it jumped from animals to man? Was it merely down to bad health and safety issues?
Let’s look at dealing with suffering. God allows Satan to put Job’s faith to the test by causing him to suffer. First, Job loses his livestock, his servants and all his children. He is devastated, but he remains faithful and praises God. Then he suffers horrible weeping sores all over his body.
God created everything, so God must have created evil, or allows it? That is something to ponder … In times of suffering, Jews often turn to the Book of Job where God allows Satan to test Job and in looking at Job we see he stays firm in his faith, so The book of Job is an encouragement that we can get through suffering.
Satan suggested that Job would not worship God if God did not protect him. Job’s wife says blame God but he would not. How have we faced up to covid, are we moaning or still praising God?
Job’s sufferings centre on the theme: Why do bad things happen to good people? The central question is to explain how an all-knowing, all-powerful and benevolent and just God allows bad things to happen in the world. This still applies equally to those suffering or to those witnessing suffering today. The answer is in Job’s response in Job 19: 25. “For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
In the end, Suffering produces intimacy with God (Job 42: 5). Job, who endured unspeakable suffering, said: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Have we allowed Covid to drive us from God or to God? Intimacy with God is often borne in the furnace of affliction.
In conclusion, we are assured in John 16: 33: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”