‘Don’t worry’, we say to an anxious friend as we try to assure them that things will be okay in tough times. Yet our words so often are an aspiration. We have at best very limited ability to influence the outcome of events over which we have little or no control.
The current health crisis is beyond anything any of us have experienced before or could reasonably be expected to face in the future. Writing these words tonight when our Prime Minister has been admitted to the intensive care facilities of St Thomas’ Hospital in London is the most sobering reminder that none of us can guarantee we will evade contracting this illness. We sincerely hope and pray that things will improve soon, not least due to the incredible efforts of so many dedicated professionals in our Health service. However, it is impossible to predict with certainty what developments will take place over the next few months.
In times like these some words of Jesus from John 14 are very apt for us. Jesus’ disciples had finally got the message that He was going to die on the cross and would very soon leave them to carry on His work without His reassuring physical presence. Their sense of panic and being overwhelmed by their ‘what ifs’ was unspoken, but Jesus knew what they were thinking and spoke these words to them:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.’
(John 14:1-3)
Jesus alone could genuinely say these words: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled… with the certain knowledge that with God’s help these overwhelmed individuals would receive the strength and power to accomplish greater things than they had ever thought was possible. Some of us may from a future perspective look back on 2020 and be so grateful for people who worked together to accomplish some amazing things, at times against the odds. What did Jesus emphasize here?
Jesus alone knows what heaven is like and came from that place to tell us something of what God has provided in advance for those who have put their faith in Him. Therefore, He speaks with authority and His utterances about it are the most important of all. What did He say?
1. A wonderful assurance (John 14:1) Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me… We need not fear the future when we are walking with Jesus. Have you put your faith and trust in Him?
2. A wonderful destination (John 14:2) In My Father’s house are many dwelling-places. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. God has a wonderful future prepared for those who love Him. It is all taken care of. Our responsibility is not even to pack a suitcase! It is simply to trust Him so that we are ready when our time comes. Are you ready if Jesus called you home today?
3. A wonderful guide (John 14:3) I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am there you may be also. Jesus is coming soon! The question is this – will you be ready? We might get the home call first, but either way we must accept the wonderful gift of salvation from our guide and follow Him both now and into eternity. Are you following this guide? If not, why not?
Jesus said: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me -let us take Him at His word and entrust our lives and our futures into His hands.
A hymn that may assist your reflections on this topic is: O Lord My God when I in awesome wonder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHqgQjJrxI8
Brian Talbot