The Cure for a Troubled Heart
by Greg Johnson
http://www.lovinggodfellowship.org
According to an article published by WebMD Medical News on May 25, 2006 titled "Top 10 Causes of Death Worldwide" the top two causes of death is heart disease and stroke (www.webmd.com/content/article/122/114878.htm). Doctors tell us that the main causes of heart disease and stroke are genetics, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and stress. Genetics are out of our control, but we can eat healthier, exercise and guard our heart from the stresses of our journey. Today I want to look at what the Bible says about guarding our heart from the stress of our journey and specifically look at something Jesus tells us concerning this.
In John chapter 13, Jesus is spending time with His followers in an upper room just prior to His crucifixion. Jesus predicts Judas’s betrayal and Peter’s denial and begins to prepare them for His death. You can detect the heaviness in the room as these followers begin to try to comprehend such news. They had left everything to follow Jesus - jobs, homes, families. They left everything to follow the person they thought was going to set up His Kingdom and rule on earth and deliver them from the Roman oppression that in itself was heart wrenching and depressing.
Jesus senses the heaviness, the depression, the anxiety, the worries, the stress and He ministers these words: (John 14:1-3 NIV) ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. {2} In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." In these words, Jesus gives us the cure for a troubled heart.
Do not let your heart be troubled.
We live in troubling times. The world grows increasingly out of step with the Gospel. There are wars being fought and genocide taking place. There are famines. There are increasingly more severe and frequent natural disasters. It is like Jesus said it would be at the end of the age (Read Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21). The age of grace is quickly coming to a close as Jesus prepares to come for His beloved. To rescue them prior to God’s wrath being poured out on a world that has rejected His love that He freely has given through Jesus.
Many things that are happening bring stress. Here in the Willamette Valley there has been a document circulated in which the author claims he has been given two dreams by God warning of a devastating earthquake that will hit Portland and the surrounding areas on June 18, 2006 as God’s judgment due to a Gay Pride Parade in Portland that day. The document states that Portland and Salem will be destroyed and there will be enormous loss of life. This document has caused much speculation, stress and anxiety.
God does not bring death and destruction during this age of grace He has given us. His wrath is coming, but will not be poured out until the end of the age on all those that have rejected His love freely given through Jesus. During this age of grace, Satan is the one bringing death and destruction. Jesus said (John 10:10 NIV) "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." If anything at all devastating happens on June 18, 2006 it will be because of a destructive, life destroying devil and not a loving, life giving God. If nothing devastating happens on June 18, 2006 we have witnessed yet another presumptuous individual that has not heard from God at all. My plans for June 18, 2006 involve preaching the Word at Loving God Fellowship and being treated to a father’s day meal by my wonderful wife and children. If anything devastating happens that day or any day, we will be available to minister to those at the point of need instead of hiding at a place of safety somewhere in the hills.
In the midst of all that is going on around us as we live in a world that grows increasingly out of step with the Gospel, we must not let our hearts be troubled. It’s a command given to us by Jesus. Jesus not only gives us this command in John 14:1, but He also gives us the methodology of keeping our hearts from being troubled.
We are to place all of our trust in Jesus.
Jesus said (John 14:1 NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me." The only way we are going to keep our hearts from being troubled is to place our total trust in Jesus. We must constantly remind ourselves that He is the Good Shepherd and we are the sheep. Jesus said (John 10:11 NIV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
King David knew how to trust the Lord. David said (Psalms 23 NIV) "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. {2} He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, {3} he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. {4} Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. {5} You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. {6} Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Beloved, to keep our hearts from being troubled on this journey that we are on, we must place our trust in the Lord. Jesus will see us through whatever comes our way as we fix our eyes on Him and follow Him.
We are to forget the past and look beyond the present.
Some people allow their heart to be troubled by living in the past. Others are so consumed with present trials that are overwhelming. We must put the past behind us and look beyond the present in order to protect our hearts from being troubled. Jesus said "(John 14:2-3 NIV) "In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
Beloved, no matter what you have gone through in the past and no matter what you are going through now, you have a bright future. Jesus is preparing your eternal home and He is coming back for you. To rescue you out of this world that grows increasingly out of step with His Gospel. That is the very next event on God’s agenda. All Bible prophecy up to that point has been fulfilled. Jesus is returning for the beloved. God’s Word says "(1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV) "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. {17} After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. {18} Therefore encourage each other with these words."
Beloved, be encouraged with these Words today! God is not against you. He is for you! Jesus is coming to rescue you! Keep following Jesus on this journey from earth to glory! Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep your hearts from being troubled!
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