DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

            John 14:1-6

            “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. As much as we try to avoid it, we all inevitably encounter troubles and difficulties, and sometimes more than we can handle them!  Jesus knew his disciples would have to face adversity and trials after he left them to return to his Father. He assured them that his departure is for their good, in order to secure a place for them in God’s house – a place of refuge, peace, and everlasting happiness. 

            If heaven is our destination, how can we be sure we know the way without some kind of map or guide or maybe a GPS?  On many occasions the scriptures speak of the way we should go.  “You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you” (Deuteronomy 5:32-33).  “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it, and fools shall not err therein” (Isaiah).  Teach me your way, O Lord; and lead me on a level path” (Psalm 27:11).  And today, Jesus proclaims that he is the way the truth and the life.

            In many different ways mankind has search for happiness in life. Greece said …..Be wise, know yourself; Rome said…….Be strong, discipline yourself; Judaism said …Be holy, conform yourself; Epicureanism says…..Be sensuous, enjoy yourself; Education says ….Be resourceful, expand yourself; Psychology says ….Be confident, fulfill yourself; Materialism says….Be acquisitive, please yourself; Pride says….Be superior, promote yourself; Asceticism says….Be inferior, suppress yourself; Diplomacy says….Be reasonable, control; yourself; Communism says….Be collective, secure yourself; Humanism says….Be capable, trust yourself; Philanthropy says ….Be unselfish, give yourself; Yet none of these ways has brought about fulfillment in people’s lives or entrance into eternity. People soon discovered the emptiness of these pursuits and discovered that these ways do not get you into happiness.

            Answering the question of Thomas, the Lord Jesus does not simply give advice and directions.  He personally is the way, the truth and the life and we cannot miss it if we trust in him.  He leads and guides us personally every day.  Many people can say, "I have taught you the truth."  But only Jesus can say, I am the Truth. The Lord Jesus is the Truth.  He embodies the truth in his person. Lastly, Jesus, not only shows us the path of life; he gives the kind of life which only God can give - eternal life. He is the life. Without the way we cannot go. Without the truth one cannot make a good choice. Without life, there is only death! There is nothing we can do. But today Jesus encourages us and invites us to enter into his life so that wherever he is we too may be there. Any fear or trouble which can keep us from the perfect peace and happiness and life of Christ has no effect if we accept to enter into the life of Christ.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God, and have faith in Jesus. That is all.