Do Not Let Your Hearts be Troubled

Brian Dumas - Elder

Read: John 14

I was watching the evening news and one of the stories centered on the recent phenomenon of America’s youth turning to Jesus Christ in large numbers.  The commentator claimed a number of polls indicated the reason for this movement was their disillusionment with the world system and our political climate - in particular, preoccupation with monetary gain, immorality, hate and deception that permeates our government.  Our youth is rejecting the value system of our world that lacks the basic integrity and truth that they are searching for, and they are turning to Jesus Christ for the answers.

History is full of examples of powerful civilizations that would qualify for the same shortcomings cited in the above polls., including the Roman Empire.  It was those very conditions that set the stage for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed to the world.  The illusive quest for meaning and truth is embodied in the Son of God who proclaimed to Pontius Pilate, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  In confusion, Pilate responded, “What is truth?”  (John 18:38) 

It is a common notion that truth is subjective, (“That may be true for you, but not for me”) and not absolute.  It is a convenient argument for avoiding accountability, but avoids the reality that truth is unchanging.  As our youth are discovering, if you want pure, unchanging truth, you have to go to God.  The bible tells us that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18), that God’s word is truth, and that Jesus Christ is the embodiment of that truth (John 14:6).  This flatly contradicts those who would deny pure, unchanging truth in this world, and our youth are embracing this reality in large numbers. 

Those of us in Christ are privileged to be partakers of truth.  In John 14, Jesus comforts his disciples who are distressed at the thought He would soon leave them.  He assures them they will be rewarded for their faith for eternity and reminds them that He is truth and in Him is the means to the comfort they so longed for -  and to this day, nothing has changed.  Jesus is still the truth and the way, whether we are part of a youth movement just discovering God, or a believer in need of drawing closer to Him. 

C.S. Lewis, a Christian author prominent during the 1930’s and 1940’s, spoke of faith as a commitment to that which we believe to be true – a commitment to the truth.  That commitment was so powerful even the horrific execution of the Apostles could not sway them to deny the truth of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our faith is in an unchanging God who loves us.  The Apostle Paul said,      

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:38-39)

Father God,

We thank you for the Truth we have in Jesus Christ and we pray for your Spirit to guide us in that Truth that we may bring glory to your name and boldly share the good news with others. In Jesus name we pray, Amen