April 1
Bible Reading: John 14:1-3
John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
In 1914, Ernest Shackleton led an expedition to sail to Antarctica and then to walk to the South Pole. The expedition went according to plan until ice trapped the ship and eventually crushed its hull. The men made their way by lifeboat to a small island. Promising to come back for them, Shackleton and a small rescue party set out across 800 miles of perilous seas to South Georgia Island. With only a sextant to guide them, they made it to the island. Shackleton then led his party over the steep mountains to the whaling port on the other side. Once there, he acquired a ship to rescue his crew. Their leader returned for them. Just as he had promised.
How difficult it must have been for the disciples to receive the news of Jesus’ pending departure (John 13:36)! Adding to their confusion and anxiety was the disclosure that among them was one who would betray Jesus into the hands of His enemies. Compounding that troubling report was the news of Peter’s pending disloyalty. Life, as the disciples had experienced it with Jesus, was about to undergo a radical change. Jesus was going away! Understandably, their hearts were troubled!
That was the context of Jesus’ comforting words: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). The antidote for their anxiety was trust in Jesus. He promised to come again and take them home to be with Him. Imagine how anxious Shackleton’s men must have been, as they endured in such an isolated and harsh environment. Their hope rested on his promised return. But we’ve the promise, not of a mere man, but of the Divine Son who died for our sins and rose from the dead! He always does what He says, and we can take Him at His Word. Life is filled with all sorts of troubling news, but in the promise of Jesus’ return, we’ve a certain hope. And in that hope, we can “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
The antidote for anxiety is trust in Jesus and the assurance that He never fails to keep His word.
WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.
Refrain:
When we all get to heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
we’ll sing and shout the victory!
While we walk the pilgrim pathway
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over
Not a shadow, not a sigh. [Refrain]
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving ev’ry day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay. [Refrain]
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open–
We shall tread the streets of gold. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 