John 14:1-4

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

14 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many mansions;^[a] if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.^[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

A simple scriptural song about Jesus’ love for us, promises that He has gone to prepare a place for us and will indeed come back again.  A truth of hope, a reminder that though this world is full of darkness and many troubles, what awaits ahead is a place of eternal peace.

Lately I’ve been troubled by people living a lifestyle of sin.  It’s a natural tendency to be turned off by their wickedness and walk the other way (sometimes I want to walk away from myself due to my own sin.)  But the other part of me wants to go up and shake them declaring… don’t you know there’s a place of hope and love far better than this world?  That there’s a God that loves you enough to forget about your past and give you a purposeful life?  It’s the freedom I have in the Spirit that moves my soul.

I’ve grown up being worried about what other people thought about my faithfulness to God.  I worried how they’d view me, as we all want to be accepted.  Now that I live in a city where sin is more rampant, I’m asking for wisdom to be an influence to others I come into contact with and to encourage and build up other believers.  I’ve always had a shy side, but I sense inside that my spirit is about to expose another portion that hasn’t been manifested before.  As if it’s been locked away, but at the same time has slowly been brewing and is waiting for the right time to burst forth.  In what way?  Only God Knows.  There’s no doubt you will indeed feel different and perhaps ‘out of place,’ on this earth.  I know I do, even among other Christians I feel very different… why is that?  I’m still praying for the answer.  Maybe I have a unique mission/calling that I find it hard to relate to others, but indeed God has a unique mission for us all does He not? (short tangent.)

Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

       I don’t want to be hated but I also want to store up those rewards/treasures in heaven.  When you think about what God has to offer, and that indeed what we experience here on earth will soon come to pass, is there any excuse to not face the troubles that come with living for Christ?  Times I’ve been more consumed with trying to live a comfortable life and giving all the excuses to why I’m not as effective, and that it would only change if God gave me what I needed… But that’s just an excuse.  Is it to much to find alternate ways to serve God, to bless others?  I’m glad God didn’t give excuses to why He couldn’t come save us for our sins.  Phew!

God’s love comes with consequences.  If we desire to be His true children, and love Him, we will do what it takes to be obedient.  Even if it means making sacrifices and/or being ridiculed, which is what most fear.

John 14:23-26 (NLT)

²³ Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. ²⁴ Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. ²⁵ I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. ²⁶ But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Even those who say they love God, don’t really love Him unless they do what He says.  Going to church on Sunday and doing whatever you want through the week isn’t what He asked.  He asked to live a life fully committed to Him.  In doing so we get to take part in His promises and look forward to that mansion in Heaven.  So really, if our heart is focused on what is here on earth, then that’s where you really want to be… But if it’s focused on spending a life of eternity in Heaven with Christ, then that’s where you shall be also.

Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

No matter what, you can’t please everyone, especially living for the Most High God, don’t be surprised when people hate you because of Him.  It’s one of the consequences of His love.

Profound Thought Moment

Among all the religions, Christians are indeed hated because the name of Jesus is powerful. We are #1 on the enemies target list.  Take this perspective.  The law of God is naturally written on our hearts whether a person has heard of God or not. He has made Himself known through creation and in our hearts.

Romans 1:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (HCSB)

¹¹ He has made everything appropriate^[a] in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts,^[b] but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

 The Conflict

Romans 8:7-8 (NLT)

⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ⁸ That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Four scriptures, two showing that instinctively we know God’s existence is real and two showing that our flesh is in conflict with the truth that lies within us.  The point of bringing this up, again is that people will hate you because of Christ.  Why aren’t other religious persecuted as much as Christians?  Because they serve false gods, gods that don’t exist, gods that are only the figment of one’s imagination.  How can the body be in conflict with which isn’t?  Due to sin,the body is in rebellion to the truth.  This is why Christ came to condemn sin in the flesh.  For that those who do believe and turn from sin will have a spiritual connection with God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

      Being said, people naturally are turned off by those who stand for truth.  They follow the desires of their natural sin, which is rebellion towards righteousness and self seeking in it’s own fleshly desires.  This is a blind fold to all those who do not believe and keep believing and living in the lies.  Think about all the wars and executions of the past years.  Countries that won’t allow Christianity to thrive but allow other religions.  It’s because their sinful nature knows what’s the truth.

Not all is lost knowing that most of the world will hate us because of our stance with Christ.  I often hear people say that God is on their side…. I understand what you’re trying to say, but God doesn’t take sides… you have to choose His side or the other guy’s side… (the devil guy.)

Again God’s love has consequences.  As shared earlier Matthew 5:12 mentions that great is our reward in heaven because of the persecutions that we face.  No matter what obstacle or trials we face, we have the assurance that God can use it to our good.

Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

I know through my life’s challenges and moving from one place to another, meeting new people and leaving friends behind, God has shaped me in ways I never thought would have been possible through all the good and bad things I endured.  I’m able to speak from experience and authority because of these dealings in my life.  To know that God has a way to totally flip Satan’s intention is a gift in itself.

1 John 4:16 (NLT)

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Trust in His love.  It doesn’t say only trust God when things are good.  We are to plainly trust in His love through the course of our entire life on earth, because Heaven is waiting for us.  We will face oppression by others who don’t take God at His Word and those who twist God’s Word to their own liking.  But understand this.  There is an enemy at work behind the scenes.  He doesn’t care about you or me.  But yet people are ignorant to his existence and easily fall victim to his plans.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

“Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Just knowing that one day I will be united with Christ, brings much joy to my heart.  It’s best to focus on such things that are positive.  We have one life here on earth.  It’s like a taking a test… just a very long enduring one.  A test to show God where our heart truly is at.  So while you are still on this earth, don’t lose hope, but consider it an opportunity to pass your test, and to let go of all the mistakes and sins that may have or are hindering you.  Turn to truth, doing so brings much freedom, love, joy and peace to your soul.  Live as if you are serving Christ Himself.  Indeed how we treat others says a lot about who we really are.  Love, it’s the best thing to have.  God’s love is not a cheesy card you find at a store, a valentines gift or physical attraction.  It’s an unconditional understanding love.  It’s sacrificial.

John 15:13 (NLT)

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

Live in Truth, Live in Freedom, Learn of God’s Love & Consequences!

Philippians 4: (HCSB)

⁸ Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

John 8:32 (NKJV)

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“