Friday, October 1, 2010

October 1, 2010

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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. 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. You know the way to the place where I am going." Jesus the Way to the Father Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:1-6
If there was ever a person who is qualitifed to comment on how to have a "Happy Ever After" it would be Jesus. He is the Only One Who came from eternity into time and in this text preparing to return.
Because Jesus knows His impending departure will be a serious blow to His disciples He begins preparing them for it, as well as comforting them regarding their "Ever After". Let's listen in and learn.
Here are three hopeful facts that Jesus shares with these followers:
1) The Reality of Hope
There is a life after this life and a place after this place! In fact, the eternal life and the eternal place are actually MORE real than life on this planet!
Jesus assures them that He is returning to this greater reality and will be preparing an "Ever After" place for them. Even though death is real and the pain and despair associated with death can be overwhelming, Jesus reminds them of what IS real - the greater reality of eternal life!
Hope is the result of getting in touch with a greater reality. Jesus is the Way!
2) The Reason For Hope
What is the difference between hope and wishful thinking?
The answer is simple: JESUS!
Because Jesus is the Word, when He says there is an eternal place that He is preparing for us that is a fact! That fact is reason to hope!
But Jesus is not just the Word, He is also the Way to the eternal place. Not only does He tell us about this hope, He provides the hope! He is the Hope because He is the connection between our faith and His Father!
3) The Relationship of Hope
Jesus was facing a very terrible and trying final week of His earthly life. Not only was He teaching about hope He was reaching for some hope Himself. As He reminds His followers of these faith facts, He is reminding Himself.
His hope is found in His knowledge of His Father and His relationship with His Father. And He had this hope because of His obedience to the will of His Father.
That is the key to your hope as well! Hope is found by trusting Jesus and living in obedience to God. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life - the Way to what? He is the Way to the Father. The Truth about what? The Truth of who we are and Who He is and the obedience we need to please God. And, He is the Life, the eternal life that transcends our brief visit to planet earth!
Hope is found in a faith relationship with God through Jesus!
So, as we think about "Happily Ever After", know the reality of hope, the reason for hope and the relationship of hope! And then grab ahold of that hope!