Many of us are suffering from the effects of COVID-19. This pandemic is the greatest “distress” many have ever experienced, and it comes with great losses – loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of freedom or loss of security. The effects of COVID-19 Worldwide 4,326,966 Cases 291,818 Deaths, yesterday 4,692 people died. But this won’t be the last “distress” of life we face. Right now, COVID-19 is our collective “distress”, but “distresses” come in all shapes and sizes – divorce, abuse, addiction, self-violence, depression, bankruptcy, death, poverty and more.
Jesus assured us that we will have trouble in this world. I know that we feel like we’ve had our fair share, and I realize that our trials are a breeze in comparison to some. But still, if we are to have trouble, I find it more freeing to know as much as we can about those “distresses” before we fall into them. Just as God instructed us to be ever watchful for Satan’s evil tactics, I think it is prudent to learn about life’s “distress”. Jesus said “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.” (John 14:1-4)
Few words in the Bible are better known or more often quoted than these, but for all their timelessness, they were addressed to a very specific situation. The manner and language of Jesus had filled his disciples with threatening. He was going to leave them, and that itself would reduce their world to rubble. But they would also have to cope with the manner of his departure. They would see him BETRAYED by one of their own, ARRESTED, and CONDEMNED TO A DEATH that would not only PULL HIM FROM THEM, but would cover His name with humiliation and BURY ALL THEIR HOPES. “I have manifested (revealed) Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that ALL THINGS which You have given Me ARE FROM YOU. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and THEY HAVE BELIEVED THAT YOU SENT ME.” (John 17:6-8)
Jesus is about to depart this world, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, KEEP THROUGH YOUR NAME THOSE WHOM YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, that they may be one as We are.” (John 17:11) He tells His disciples, “…I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE COMFORTER WILL not come to you. But if I depart, I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU.” (John 16:7)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham