Take Heart

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

As we read the newspaper, watch the news on television, or get the update of the world on our PC’s and cell phones, one common thread is that there is a lot going on to make us feel anxious, concerned, and worried; whether it is the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the continuing struggle between Israel and Palestine, or all the various terrorist attacks throughout the world. And then of course, we watch as the stock market continues to take yet another major dive. Let us not forget our local news of the unemployment rate, layoffs, and violent crimes that we hear circling around us. It truly does seem bleak, or as Jesus told us, “we do live in a world full of trouble.”

So, what do we do? Do we put our head in the sand, and give up? Do we allow all the anxiety, stress, and fear cause us to just become little “gumbies”, going through the motions of life, but not really living and embracing it? No we don’t! What we do, is begin to take Jesus’ words to heart. What is exciting to me is that since the day we committed our lives to Him, He dwells in our hearts! So, it’s that basic understanding we must grasp. Because Jesus lives in our hearts, and because Jesus has overcome the world, that means that we can overcome the world because He lives in us.

The other exciting promise we find in their passage of scripture is that Jesus will give us peace in all the situations we face. Wow, how incredible is that?! When faced with troublesome situations, Jesus promises to give us peace through it, as well as the ability to overcome it. How? Because He has overcome the world. Now, the peace that Jesus gives is "perfect", and it will also "guard", and "protect" our hearts. Just as the Apostle Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This true peace comes from knowing that God is in control, and our citizenship in heaven is assured, and our destiny is guaranteed, and finally, we can and will have victory over sin.

So, let us truly embrace this concept of true peace, because we know that Jesus dwells in our hearts, and He has overcome the world, and we, too, will overcome it, because of Him.

Pastor Rick

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