Do not be unbelieving, but believing

But Be Believing

 

 

‭‭John‬ ‭14:1‭-‬6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

Let not your heart be troubled.

Beautiful words to encourage and remind us.

We have never been promised a life without trouble. We weren’t promised riches and wealth. We were never guaranteed an easy pass through this life.

The Disciples had been walking with Jesus for three years. Now time is up.

Now Jesus must finish what He started.

No matter how much training we have. How much confidence we gain, knowledge, wisdom and discernment it all can still be overwhelming.

 

The Lord understood what He told the Disciples wasn’t easy for them to fully comprehend.

Sometimes we don’t know why.

Sometimes we are never left with the answers to the questions.

Even though we walk in the light, the darkness of this life sometimes casts the shadows that makes it a bit dimmer.

 

Jesus says,

Let not your heart be troubled.

This is a very bold statement from a man that was about to be arrested, beaten, pierced and hung.

 

This is the same message that He continues to preach today

 

“Believe in Me”

 

OK. So we believe. It doesn’t ease our hearts. That doesn’t calm our thoughts.

The anxiety levels don’t come down. It seems like nothing has changed!

 

Jesus says this,

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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

 

His Love prepares a welcome for us.

When we are expecting a child what does a loving expecting parent do?

They prepare a room for the baby.

They dress it up. Make sure that all the necessities are there. Out of love not obligation. So when the day they arrive home they are welcomed to a place that was specifically designed and created for this beautiful baby to rest.

Jesus prepares a place for His people in the exact same way!

 

If Jesus goes to prepare, that means that He must come back. He makes a promise that He will return.

We have focused on the things of this world. We have allowed them to penetrate into our hearts and minds.

Eventually what it does is takes out the hope of Heaven.

Our focus is to be Heaven minded and His Glorious Return!

 

Oh what a day that will be! Glorious!

 

But there’s questions.

There is always one that doesn’t fully and completely believe. Maybe we need some clarity. Maybe there is doubt that settles in.

Thomas was that one.

Thomas spoke up. I’m sure what he said all of the Disciples were thinking.

Thomas says, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Bold and courageous to ask the Lord a simple question that so many of us have.

 

How can we know the way!

Jesus doesn’t say that He would show you the way. He doesn’t point us to the way. He said that He is the WAY!

He didn’t promise to teach us a truth.

He said that He is the TRUTH!

Jesus didn’t offer us the secrets to this life He said that He is the LIFE!

 

Sometimes we get lost on this journey.

We aren’t sure which direction to go.

He says He is the Way.

There is only one way, one path. There was only one Crucifiction. There is only One that is the mediator to the Father and no other. There is only One that died for your sins. Jesus is the Way to Salvation. He is the Way to Righteousness. He is the only way to Heaven.

 

There is so much noise and confusion that comes into our ears we don’t know what to believe anymore.

He says He is the Truth.

Because He is perfect in every way and there is nothing deceitful in Him.

 

Jesus is the life.

He gave His life freely as a Sacrifice so that all that call upon His name repent, believe and follow have the Way shown to to them so see the Truth in His wounds and the Life in and through those pierced hands and feet.

 

The only Way to Heaven is through those same wounds!

 

Jesus goes to the Cross. He dies. He is buried in a borrowed tomb. Then He raises!

 

The women come and see the Empty tomb. Some of the Disciples come to witness.

 

John 20:24-25

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

 

Then Jesus visits them all in His new Glorified body.

 

How many signs in our lives does Jesus have to give us in order for us to believe, before we can completely whole heartedly trust what He says is true?

 

Our Lord is Gracious and Merciful, and wants us to have faith in His promises, He still gives Thomas a personal encounter to experience what He says is true.

 

‭‭John‬ ‭20:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

 

“Touch my wound Thomas”

Imagine Thomas waking up to Jesus and checking His Hands and Pierced side!

 

There are many who falsely claim they are Jesus, but there is only One who has been Resurrected with the wounds to prove it!

 

Hide in the safety of His wounds.

 

When you need assurance of His love, grace and mercy; if you have ever doubted that what He says is true; when you feel alone and abandoned and have that deep seeded fear and worry; then look into the Palm of His hands and be confident knowing that those piercings were out of love!

Never forget the nailed pierced hands and feet of our Savior. That’s what brings us assurance that what He says is true and the Hope that one day we will be with Him in Paradise.

Look at the Pierced side!

 

And then we can be just like Thomas and declare in complete confidence and faith,

 

My Lord and my God! It is You!

 

Doubting Thomas would not be doubting Thomas anymore!

 

Purpose yourself today!

 

Don’t be unbelieving but believing!

Let not your heart be troubled.

 

Why?

His promise.

 

” I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. ”

 

Until then, hide in the safety of His wounds!

Pastor Ed