A Secret No Longer Sermon Iv: A Troubled Heart There Need Not Be Series

A TROUBLED HEART THERE NEED NOT BE FOR WE WHO KNOW THE WAY

Spring Break began Friday and the radio announcer said “there will be more than 80,000 travelers to pass through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport” on that particular day.

If you yourself have ever passed through the Atlanta airport, you know that there are many entrance ways, passageways, ramp ways, moving walk ways, not to mention all the zig zagging pathways created by ropes snaked through hoops mounted on metal stands. And everywhere there are arrows with the wording “This Way” printed on them in order to point you in a certain direction.

So, if travelers want to get through security and get to the right concourse for boarding the plane that will carry them to their destination, they must follow the directions, and stay the course that has been laid out for them by folks who know the way to go to get to the specific place where everyone needs to be.

In the spiritual realm of life, the process by which we pilgrims just passing through this world, arrive at God’s intended destination, follows a similar pattern.

If we listen attentively to our Lord’s declarations about Himself . . . place our trust in Him . . . believe what He says is truth . . . follow His instructions . . . do His Will . . . He will bring us to the place He has prepared for all who believe.

To trust Him as Lord and Savior is to know the Way to get to the place He has prepared for us and, therefore, overcome a troubled heart - John 14:1-7 . . .

Martin Luther called this passage “the best and most comforting sermon that our Lord delivered on earth, a treasure and a jewel not to be purchased with this world’s goods.” Likewise, let us realize that true peace and real joy cannot be bought. It is matter of the heart . . . our innermost being . . . trust! So . . .

If you’re discontent, worried, anxious, bewildered, perplexed, confused, or otherwise in need of comfort, perhaps the reason is that you don’t trust Him like you should and could. For, you see, if we really trust Christ, what is there to fear or worry about? Why be troubled? A troubled heart there need not be for we who know the Way to glory!

Perhaps your plight has at times been like Thomas’s and mine: we thought we understood but, as it turned out, we really didn’t understand. You might have said to someone, in response to their distress, “I understand” when, truth be told, you did not because you had not “walked in their shoes” or “sat where they sat” - and therefore there was no way you could fully understand.

Let’s face it – the disciples’ faith was typified by Thomas who should’ve and could’ve but didn’t understand.

They believed what they saw, and no more. Jesus tried to get across to them that His visible presence was not as significant as their understanding of His continued presence spiritually speaking, following His ascension back to the Father. In essence what He told them was: “You can trust My presence . . . You can trust My promise . . . You can trust My person (I will go with you . . .).”

To them He said, and to us He says: You believe in God, even though you do not see Him. You also believe in Me whom you do see. Keep on believing and do not let your faith be diminished just because you do not see Me in person. I will still be with you in Spirit.”

Flashback to Deuteronomy 31:6 - “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Such faith in the omnipotence and omnipresence of God was a basic tenet of the Jewish religion and is just as basic to our Christian faith. Jesus tells us what He told them: “Keep on trusting Me, just as you have been, and are, trusting God, even though I also will not be visible in the flesh.”

Trust that demolishes trouble and grants peace is a matter of the heart.

A framed crocheted work of art that I cherish was given to me by my youngest son . . . The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched but are felt in the heart. Peace (of mind, heart, soul) is one of those best and most beautiful things in the world!

We can trust His presence to “see us through” life’s struggles, and we can trust His promise to take us to His “Father’s House” to go on living.