OUR LORD’S PERSONAL CURE
FOR TROUBLED HEARTS
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:1-3. Jesus has provided for our deliverance and freedom from the anxiety, perplexity, distress, sorrow, and agitation that would overwhelm our hearts. Beloved, let us appreciate and appropriate all that He is, and wants to be to our life.
HIS PERSUASION: “BELIEVE IN ME.” He thus calls on us to trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him as a clinging vine. With confidence in Him let us rest in these facts, what He has promised, He is able to perform – Rom. 4:21. That is, He will (complete) perform that good work which He has begun in us – Phil. 1:6. Distress cannot easily overcome us when we are fully persuaded that He is making all things work together for our good – Rom. 8:28. How gently and firmly He would persuade us that nothing can separate us from His love – Rom. 8:38. He longs to settle all of our hearts with the fact that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day – II Tim. 1:12.
HIS PEACE: “PEACE I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” – John 14:27. His peace is His fruit, a product of Him reproduced in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are encouraged to pray on the basis of the Word that divine peace will keep (protect, guard as with a garrison) our hearts and minds -Phil. 4:6,7. The unsettling events of our world in the day could certainly agitate our hearts. There seem to be many perplexing problems in every aspect of today’s living. Turmoil in the ecology, economy, and the political world cause much perplexity.
Luke prophesied of wars, earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. Oh yes, we hear of more and more bloodshed, lack of food, and epidemics uncontrollable. The shaking of former foundations is causing many hearts to fail. Satanic winds are striving to further trouble the waters, the sea and waves are roaring. Yet, we with eyes and hearts looking up, behold Jesus in control, “walking upon the waters,” and saying to uneasy hearts, “Peace be still.” He brings waters of quietness even in the midst of the storm.
HIS POWER: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” – II Cor. 12:9. For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He liveth by the power of God. We are comforted by the fact that the power that propelled Jesus as a man has been sent back in the person of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are not only comforted by that power being put to our disposal, but also, being divinely guided in the perfect will of God soothes us in puzzling times. How blessed to know, we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us.”
HIS PREPARATION: “I go to prepare a place for you.” Though the Father has many mansions in his house, Jesus seems to have a special place in mind for His beloved. Our hearts are comforted to consider how much He cares for us. How can we possibly know what great expense and expanse was involved in such preparation. Just to think of Him leaving such height of glory, and stooping to the depths of human depravity should assure our innermost being in the face of any trouble. He who knew no sin, was made sin for us – II Cor. 5:21. Does it not give us great peace to ponder the fact that He who first descended even into the lower parts of the earth, hath also ascended up on high, to appear in the presence of God for us? Oh, what marvelous preparation! I am comforted just to think that His preparation will not be in vain. I expect to be there, and enjoy my place at His place!
HIS PROMISE: “I WILL COME AGAIN.” These are some of Jesus’ most comforting words. How they soothe the weary heart. The things our adversary would cause us to fret over today, however threatening they may appear, however vexing or perplexing, large or small, what are they in view of the fulfillment of His promise to return? Since He has so faithfully fulfilled, in great measure, the things foretold in the Word, our hears joyfully expect to realize this. We also are admonished to comfort one another with His promise – I Thess. 4:18.
HIS PRESENCE: “WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.” This was Jesus’ deep desire before the foundation of the world, to bring His redeemed, glorified into His personal presence. His coming again is for the express purpose of receiving us “unto Himself.” “For the Lord Himself shall descend.” He prayed before going to the cross, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world” – John. 17:24. Just to be with Him, to be glorified in His presence will make Heaven, Heaven. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, we also shall appear with Him in glory – Col. 3:4. Our hearts thrill with the prospects of not only being in His presence, changed into His likeness, and seeing Him as He is, but also realizing our appointment of living forever together with Him – I Thess. 5:10. We are admonished also to comfort our- selves together with this thought – I Thess. 5:11.
