What are you looking forward too?
So often if were honest things we look forward to dont always live up to our expectations.
I remember my Kids getting really excited about the magic of Disneyland Paris. They had watched the magic of the advertising campaign on TV, it loooked great. But the reality of it when we went for a holiday was awful. We got there and it was pouring down with rain and we had to que for hours just to get on a dumbo ride that went round in a circle and up and down. I’m sorry it didnt live up to my expectations.
Every true Christian has a great and certain hope the Glory of Heaven itself awaits. Heaven Will be over and beyond our human expectations. But as yet we live in the not yet!
Can I ask you a question? Where are you going? I mean after death? Have you heard the story about the tombstone which read...
Pause now as you pass by¡KAs you are now once was I, as I am now ao you must be prepared yourself to follow me.... Then someone had etched underneath To follow you I’m not content until I know which way you went!’
In this passage we have Jesus explaining to his disciples the only way to Heaven Is through him.
Background.
Here we have Jesus in the upper room in Jerusalem speaking with his disciples prior to His crucifixion. The Last Supper as it is well known and still undertaken to this day until he comes. These disciples were continually looking forward to Jesus being their earthly Messiah. But He did not live up to their pre-conceived ideas instead he would be a suffering servant who was not going to bring down the might of Rome but was to conquer sin, death and the devil.
Jesus could see their troubled heart. .
Jhn14; 1. ¡§Do not let your hearts be troubled¡¨
He wants to comfort them here at this point regarding his Kingdom to come and his return
Disciples faced troubles and are very distrught at this time.
Jhn.13; 21,22. Jesus said one would betray him. Jhn 13.22 disciples were perplexed.Lk. 22; 23. They began to question amongst themselves who! Lk. 22; 24. A dispute arises; who¡¦s the greatest. Jn 13; 38. Peters rebuked by Jesus. lke.22; 15 Tells them of his suffering again 3x (never sinks in!)
Jesus explains they have continued with him in his trials for three years they had walked with Jesus. Leaving behind lucrative business to follow Jesus and the stigma of their fellow Jews. They loved him! Many would be martyred in the years to come.
Be prepared for trouble disciples!
Some Christian¡¦s say we should be healthy, wealthy and wise. I say beware! Nobody is free from trouble. Financial, family, friends, work troubles. Anxieties, stress, depression, disease, call it what you may nobody is amune. (What about you?)
John.16; 33.Jesus said in this world you will have trouble.
Heard the humorous story of the little boy who wrote on an anniversary card to his grandparents happy adversity rather than happy anniversary. But if you’ve lived a long life this should bring a chuckle because you know life brings it problems in all shapes and forms. ( we are guaranteed to face troubles.)
¡§Do not let your hearts be troubled.¡¨
Jesus here is not meaning do not let your hearts be sensible of the trials, or sad because of them. Be not ruffled and discomposed; be not disquieted by them. But what he is saying although things are falling down right in front of us sometimes.
¡§YOUR HEARTS¡¨
We have a certainty that cannot be taken away from us through the troubles of this life as his disciples he is addressing his people the redeemed, chosen sanctified ones. Do you belong to him?
The watch illustration the puritans. The often view the Christian life like a watch as we look at our lives, its like looking on the inside of the watch with all the parts working in different directions. But God sees the outside going round perfectly second by second and minute by minute. All things in our lives have a purpose the good and the bad.
Many people consider affliction as a thief who comes to steal ones joy, its better to look at it as a friend coming to give you endurance.
The world blames God! Many turn to the physciatrist, social worker, relate even drink and drugs many fall into ruin day by day many even commit suicide no hope no future. But how wonderful it is when we here of those brought out of darkness into His light. I can bear testimony to that in my own life,can you?
Expand on our Sin problem.
Are you going through troubles at this moment in time Jesus calls to you today! Jesus said Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Rom 6; 23. For the wages of sin is death.
Jesus faced the greatest trouble so that you need not!
Heb. 4; 15 In Jesus we have someone who sympathizes with our weaknesses.
He faced ridicule and rejection from Jews and Romans, rejection Jhn1; 13. He faced Jhn 18; 2 server beatings. Jhn12; 27 His heart is troubled over the coming hour. Jhn.13; 21.Troubled over betrayal
Lk 22; 41-44. Extreme agony over the Fathers will for him yet He was obedient. Why? For you! Upon the Cross, he could say lke.23; 34. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
Edward the 8th 1894 - 1972. Radio Broadcast on his abdication 11Dec. 1936
At long last, I am able to say a few words of my own... Until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak. I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.
Rom 5; 8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
2. Be prepared to trust in Jesus.
What or who are you trusting in? Jesus is calling us to trust in him alone.
Trusting in God alone is not enough. But also trust in me¡K.
Many people are theistic (create a God) yet are apathetic to the claims of Christ.
Trusting in law: Islamic, Hindus, Sikh¡¦s, Buddhists etc. Wrong ideas today.
Thwe mindset of Christianity in the UK can fall into these three catorgories.
Mr. church goer. 2. Mr.in the family. 3. Mr. Good works.
The first one is mere Church attendance many trust in that. The second Ive been born a Christian all my family are Baptists and my Daddy is a minister and the third one my good works will out weigh my bad all these views are faulty.
If we could be saved by law keeping why did Jesus die it would be a cruel sick joke. The law reveals our sin and leads us to Christ.
Trust in a person the God /man.
We have looked at the immense trust Jesus shows to the will of the Father in the garden.
We must simply trust also the work of Christ like a little child.
Mrk.10; 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
A mere belief in God is not enough.Jesus is saying to them you trust in God (Yahweh) now you must also trust in me! Why? I am that God! (Jhn.14.8-9) Jesus is the only Savior Jhn 14; 6. no man comes to the father except by me. There is no other name!
1 Tim 2; 5. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus
b. Have you come to put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ?
Faith and trust are closely linked faith is the trust in a person of Jesus the truth of his teaching, and the redemptive work he accomplished at Calvary.
Faith is not to be confused with a mere intellectual ascent to doctrinal teaching, though necessary. It includes a radical and total commitment to Jesus as Lord of your life.
Eph 2; 8.For it is by grace you have been saved
When Sir Christopher Wren designed St.Pauls cathedral in London the local council wanted to put a central pillar in the construction they said the number of pillars in the design were not sufficent. But Wren disagreed, he told them they were sufficent, but they insisted and so the central pillar was eventually put in.
Well the ironic thing was that recently on refurbishment work on the pillars they discovered that the central pillar was actuallly a few centimeteres short from the roof, it was actually holding nothing up. So all along Sir C. Wren was right the original design by Wren was sufficent, it didnt need to be added.
In the same way trusting in Jesus alone is sufficent we need nothing else just simple saving faith that’s sufficent. Be prepared to trust Jesus alone, dont add.
3) Be prepared to be transformed and transported.
„h New life transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly its amazing but there we have a complete transformation and so it is when a person is born again.
It¡¦s wonderful to know how Christ transforms a sinner¡¦s life into a new creation. No longer living in fear of death and eternity because these things have been conquered and revealed. Even the troubles in life are used for the glory of God as we are being transformed into his likeness and ultimately will be completely glorified in Christ.
Transported to a palace
This conversation took place in the upper room but Jesus is now talking about a far higher place. The glory of Heaven itself no anti climax!.
Imagine being invited to Buckingham palace to meet the queen, well believers have a far greater palace, and they are invited too, not just for the day but for an eternity with the King of Kings.
This place my Fathers house our house (mansion) not a tent or a tabernacle within the holy of holies where the High priest entered, but a house our Fathers house. Mansions many rooms. With a places for you! Our individuality shall not be lost yet we will all be taken up with God and not by ourselves!
Will you be there? ITS BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU!
Which he has prepared?
I cant help but think here we see Jesus still serving even in Glory itself Jesus has prepared many places; He has gone ahead and made it all possible.
Personally for you¡K
1Cor.2; 9-10. No eye has seen no ear as heard no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. As he revealed heaven to you?
to be transformed.
We are all being transformed in one way or the other some to eternal life or eternal death. Its amazing what plastic surgery can do to a person these days it can totally transform their appearance, but sadly death and decay still come to all. And man is even trying to combat death.
I’ve heard that in the USA that more and more people are having their bodies frozen in liquid nitrogen its called Cryonics. For $80,000 dollars their freeze your whole body if you have’nt got that much cash then for $20,000 dollars they will freeze your head and when they get the neccessary technology to put you togetehr again their Defrost you and bring you back to life. But needless to say, it does’nt come with any cast iron gaurantee and lets face it even if they did bring you back you would still have to face death at some point.
But Christians know that death has been conquered Jesus died and he rose again and we can possses and know that same transforming power in our own lives at no extra cost because the price has been paid!
1Cor. 5; 1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands.
No more suffering and pain
The early disciples new what suffering for Christ really was they would face subsequent martyrdom like Peter who was crucified upside down outside Rome, James the first of the twelve to be martyred.
Paul beheaded in Rome thousands of Christian¡¦s throughout the centuries have been martyred more so today than ever.
What did John say? Rev 21; 3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away.
Friends are you prepared to Trust in God through Jesus Christ alone? Are you prepared for troubles in this life? Are you prepared to be transformed and transported to a most wonderful place... I hope so it will be beyond all our expectations!
