Who is leaving whom?

John 16:30-33  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Listen to the words Jesus spoke, read them again, there will come a time you will leave me alone…….yet I am not alone……..I have said these things so that you may have peace in me.  Jesus is doing far more than telling His followers what is to come for Him. He is giving them a model to live out their lives in the coming days, weeks and years. Has He not told us that the Father is with Him, and those with Christ are also with the Father? He offers us the peace, He offers His followers that day peace in knowing that they will never truly be alone. We all know that feeling don’t we? The feeling of being alone? That crushing, deep thump in the bottom of your stomach. That moment you look around and realize that your world is about to fall apart, and you have no idea how to fix it, or who can help, the situation is hopeless, helpless, and done for. That is the moment Christ was about to face. His mortal world was about to come to an end, in a way that makes most of our darkest hours seem much lighter by comparison. It is in our dark times, in or troubled times, in the times when the world has abandoned us, just as Christ’s disciples are about to abandon Him, we must realize we too are not alone. Christ is with us….and Christ has overcome the world, He has defeated death, He has not left us, even when every other person has ran out, Christ remains. Why is that truth so important to remember? It is tough times for many of us, debt is at an all-time high, work is hard to find, bills are due, the kids need shoes, summer is around the corner, free time will have to be filled, everyone wants something, and you only have so much to give….and I bet if you are honest with yourself, you have looked around and said “I am all alone in this”. That is the lie that the devil wants you to believe, it is the lie that the world will foster and feed you to increase your dependence on it, it is the lie we allow to take hold in our hearts, because we have forgotten the light, in our time of darkness. We are never alone, and if we will rely on the One that has brought us this far, if we will listen to His call, instead of the call of the world, if we will stand with Him, instead of running head long into the brick wall alone, He will show us the way through, or around, or under, He has told us we will have troubles. Christ was never one to bluff, that is not something He was just saying. He knew the troubles that were to come for those that followed Him, and He knew of the troubles you were to face, and are facing at this very moment. He wants you to have peace! Peace in Him! He wants you to walk with Him, and let Him direct your steps, just as He left His Father direct His. No, no matter how dark it might seem, you are not alone, unless you choose to be. You are not lost, unless you choose to be, you are not at the end of your rope, you are simply at the beginning of His. Grab hold, and pull. He will sustain, He will endure, He will fortify you with the strength, and the insight. He never asked to be the co-pilot. Let Him fly the plane. We spend so much of our lives chasing something, Chase Christ, and you will find you are never alone, and He is always within reach. 

Peace to all, and love in faith,

Brian