Home Sweet Home

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

The Lord gave us some tremendous resources to get us through a hard world. He talks a lot about these in John 13-18. The first one we looked at was PEOPLE TO COUNT ON. Secondly, we looked at THE PROSPECT OF THINGS TO COME. Third, He has given us A PERSON WITH PRESENCE AND POWER.

As the infomercials say, “But wait… there’s more!” Jesus has given us

A PLACE TO BELONG.

Where do you abide? Home is where the heart is, right? Is your heart about America… all eagles, flags, and the Statue of Liberty? Do you love the state you are in? (That may just be a Texas thing. They still think there are people out there “messing with Texas“.) Maybe your thoughts about where you abide go to your town, or even your street, possibly down to your very house.

We may not feel we have a place we really belong. But Jesus gave us a place to abide. In fact, in John 15:1-11, you see the word over and over. Abide. Abide. Abide. Abide in Jesus, He abides in us. In fact, we can do nothing apart from abiding in Him! He said we are branches, attached to Him, the vine. The branches are dead off the vine, but alive and fruitful on the vine.

But what does He mean by abide? What does that look like? The answer is right in the passage:

John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

Following Jesus Christ means you are attached to Him and obedient to Him. It’s evidence that you are attached when your desire is to honor and serve Him your heart your whole heart.

Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? I think I do…most of my life. At a banquet, at the preachers’ meeting, at the senior citizens’ home, around teenagers, weddings, receptions, grad parties - so often I just feel like, “What the heck? Why don’t I feel like I should be here? I don’t think I belong here! Do I belong here?”

Jesus gave us a place to belong. We are in Him, and He is in us. That’s home.

Even before Christ, even before Pentecost, Moses had an idea about this concept. In Psalm 90, verse 1, he says, “Lord you have been our dwelling place, in all generations.”

Do you know God as your dwelling place? Are you abiding in Christ? Stop and look at your life right now - what evidence is there that you belong to God? Are you at home in Him?

It sure is a comfort to have a place to call home. 

p.s. - can't wait to finally be home with the Lord...in person...forever!

Another Helper

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

So Jesus said some things so that we have His peace. The Lord gave us some tremendous resources that He mentions in John 13-18. The first one we looked at was PEOPLE TO COUNT ON. Secondly, we looked at THE PROSPECT OF THINGS TO COME.

The third thing the Lord gives us to get us through a hard world is A PERSON WITH PRESENCE AND POWER.

John 14:16-17 - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

If you were one of the 12 disciples, you would have asked: How could it possibly be a good thing for Jesus to leave the earth? Answer: it would usher in something very significant. No longer would the unique presence of God be represented on the earth in one Man, but the Holy Spirit would come to indwell all believers!

Notice Jesus said another Helper was coming. There are 2 primary Greek words for another: heteros and allos - and they both have slightly different meanings. Heteros meant another of a different kind, and allos meant another of the samekind.

Meaning, if you brought me a tray of cookies, and offered me a chocolate chip mayonnaise cookie, I would ask for another (heteros) cookie (meaning, “nah, give me different cookie“). And if you gave me an Eat N Park Smiley cookie, I would ask for another (allos) cookie (meaning, “I would like 1 more, just like that").

The point: Jesus said the Father is giving us allos Helper - another of the same kind. Meaning, the Holy Spirit would be like Jesus! Can we even begin to wrap our brain around this? The Holy Spirit, who is just like Jesus, comes and lives within you!

When I was a kid, I wasn’t scared of anything… as long as my big brother was around! I could say or do anything as long as he was there to protect me. But there were times he couldn’t be around, so I was a little more cautious about what was going on.

But when we are in Christ, the truth is Christ is in us, as the Holy Spirit resides to guide us and empower us. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, He is there.

In the face of temptation, there. 
In discouragement, there. 
In times of hurt, there. 
In the valley of the shadow of death, there.

In joy, there. 
In victory, there. 
In ministry, there. 
Always there. 
Always empowering. 
Always at work.

God has given us some amazing resources. But this, though listed third on our little study, is really the top of the list. Nothing is as awesome as God giving Himself to us! What are you facing today that is stronger and bigger than God Himself?

Bring it on, world. Have you seen that the God of the universe is with me?

p.s. - Whom, then, shall I fear?

SPOILER ALERT! Heaven is Going to Be So Awesome!

John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

In the world, we do have trouble. A lot of it.

But Jesus said some things so that we have His peace. The Lord gave us some tremendous resources to get us through a hard world. The first one we looked at was “People to Count On”.

Secondly, Jesus has given us THE PROSPECT OF THINGS TO COME.

John 14:2-3 - In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

 
I love the book of Ecclesiastes. Here is the short version: life is hard, life is empty, life is meaningless, life is short, life isn’t fair. But that’s only an earth-side view of life, only looking at what is “under the sun”. When the Lord is brought into the equation, life has meaning. Deep, rich meaning. But without the Lord, life is a tragedy, then you die.

Some people, might I suggest most people in the world, live as if this is all there is. Life under the sun, here and now. This is it. Nothing to look forward to. We live a hard life, then we die. Pointless. Just do whatever the heck you want while you are here, just try to be happy whatever the cost, because our existence is a joke, life is meaningless.

So here is some good news: Jesus Christ gives us the prospect of things to come! This is not the end, in fact, this life is just the beginning! We have the privilege of being the beneficiary of the Lord’s redemptive grace now, but being in His presence for eternity.

If I asked you if I could bite your arm, you wouldn’t go for it. That hurts, right? But if I told you if you let me bite your arm, I would give you a brand new car, you would roll your sleeve up and shove your arm in my mouth. It still hurts, but what changed the attitude...? The knowledge that something bigand great comes afterwards. Amazing how much less painful things can seem if we have the big picture in mind.

Eyes to the sky. Life can be hard, but Jesus promised the best is yet to come. He is preparing your place right now. And He is going to escort you there someday.

We have peace, knowing the day will come when all pain, heartache, disappointment, and hurt will forever be a thing of the past.

p.s. - is not going to bite you

God’s Provision to Get Us Through a Hard World

You’ve been there. I have. I wish I could tell you we won’t be there again, but before today ends, before the week ends, before the month ends, eventually we find ourselves back there. That place where we wonder how am I going to get through this?

Maybe you are facing an illness. Worse yet, maybe your child is. Maybe it is a financial struggle. Perhaps it is a prodigal child. Or it could be the loss of your job. It may be a loved one is very close to passing away. How am I going to make it through this?

Last blog, we had a reality check: we are fallen people (but in Christ redeemed!) living in a world under a curse, surrounded by other sinful people, and Satan himself is called the god of this world (until Christ returns to take it back).

I wish it were different, but the sad reality is that we live in a world where bad news, tragedy, heartache, and pain are the norm… we should expect these things. Jesus even promised in John 16:33: In the world you will have tribulation.

Bad news, just deal with it right? Wrong.

Jesus ALSO said, right before the previous statement: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

So peace is found in Him. But what are these things He spoke to the disciples (and us) that deliver this peace? Apparently, Jesus said some things specifically for the purpose of showing us how we have peace in Him. So what are they?

Jesus made this statement at the end John 16, an extended teaching that began in John 13. Starting there, we find in this portion of Scripture at least five different things God is providing to get us through a hard world.

The first one is

PEOPLE TO COUNT ON.

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

God has given us each other. That’s great news.

I don’t know about you, but I can easily recognize and readily acknowledge the impact my brothers in the Lord have on me. When I am discouraged, they encourage. When I am down, they pick me up. When I am overwhelmed, they come alongside and help. And I try to do the same for them.

Not just trying to be a buddy, but loving each other. And not just loving each other, but loving as Jesus has loved us.Selflessly, fully, perfectly. And when the world see us loving each other that way, their response will be, “Those people must be true followers of Jesus.”

It’s sad when I hear people make comments like, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” That’s not only a statement from immaturity, but it’s a statement of someone who is missing out. Missing the blessing of peace that comes from knowing: yes, life is hard; yes, bad news is around every corner; yes, we live in a world of suffering…but we are not alone. We are in a team…no, a family, who loves us with the love of Christ.

So when life gets hard, we can say, “Bring it. Check out the people who got my back. God Himself provided them. So... bring it.”

Thank you, God, for your provision of people to count on. May I be one to them, too. 

p.s. - learning to love like Jesus loved