No, Never Alone

Text: Isaiah 43:1-7

Title: No, Never Alone

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 28:20, Jesus the savior of the world promised that He would be with us always until the end of time. Jesus made this promise to the disciples because He realized they were scared and confused and needed comfort in their moment of uncertainty, thus He set out to assure them that neither death, nor life, angels, or principalities, powers and wickedness can keep them from His love.

This amazing promise provided comfort for the disciples and energized them to push forth the Christian movement and spread the good news of the gospel. This promise provided them with the strength they would need to overcome adversity, face wicked men, and triumph over difficulties for the sake of the Gospel. The promise provided them with the hope that they will see the Master again. And the promise provided them with power which was demonstrated at Pentecost when they spoke in tongue, and demonstrated in the City of Joppa where Peter raised Tabitha from the dead.

This same promise is what keeps you and I from losing our minds when trouble knocks on our door steps. This promise is what keeps us keeping on when the going gets tough. This promise is what causes us to shout even when the bills are not paid. This promise is what makes us sing with joy even at a funeral of a loved one. This promise is what helps us to endure hardships, to withstand betrayal from our friends, and to suffer set backs after setbacks even as we wait for our comebacks.

Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you an air of invincibility that non Christians cannot understand. Non believers cannot understand why we are so hopeful and optimistic about life even though our options are limited. They cannot understand why we think we can overcome diseases for which the scientific community hasn’t found a cure. They cannot understand why we come together on Sunday morning to make such a big deal out of a God we cannot see.

Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you everlasting peace. Folks can and will act up around you, yet you are cool, calm, and collected because of the peace of God which surpasses all understanding that resides in you. With this peace you don’t need to lose your composure because you know that in the end all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord…With this peace you don’t have to go around seeking revenge because you know that God will fight your battles and give you victory. With this peace you don’t have to stay up at night worrying about things that are beyond your control. You just let God take care of them as you get a good night sleep.

Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you endurance. People who trust in the everlasting presence of Jesus Christ in their lives don’t ever give up. They may take a licking but they will keep on ticking. The road may get rough, but they will ride the waves like a California surfer. They may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed, because of the everlasting presence of God in their lives.

SETTING THE STAGE

In our text this morning, the Lord is using the prophet Isaiah to remind the children of Israel that He is still on their side. You see, sometimes things can get so bad in your life that you start believing that God has turned against you. Sometimes you can get so hurt by folks and so overwhelmed by your circumstance that you actually feel like cursing God and die. There are times that God feels so far away that you feel so alone and forsaken as to contemplate suicide. In times like these we have to remember that God is our very present help in times of danger. In times like these we have to remember what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear. In times like these we have to remember He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5).

Simply stated, God was reminding the children of Israel that they haven’t messed up bad enough for Him to forsake them. That’s good news for us. What that tells us is that no matter how far down we get and no matter how low we go, God will not forsake us. He may chastise us but He will not abandon us. He may rebuke and reprove us but He will not allow the enemy to destroy us.