John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
i was running. i didn't know how fast, and i didn't care. i just knew i had to run. No, i wasn't running away never to return, i was just running under the pouring rain to a place where i knew was going to be safe for me to stay for a while.
Again, i screwed up. Things weren't going well around the house, so before i could do something terrible or vice versa, i ran out of the house with no second words. i probably hurt my brother and grandparents pretty bad, and i got them worried, but i just took off.
It was a long way from my house to KJ's. i guess i forgot, but when i got there, my breathlessness turned into tears. KJ wasn't there, but Ate M was. She was very concerned, and made sure i got warm. It was a pretty low day for me, especially since i was so afraid to face the people in the house once i returned.
After a while of waiting, KJ came back, and we talked. It was very encouraging for him to remind me how much love was surrounding me.
Then after dinner, Ate M got me and KJ to watch a sermon about trouble by Pastor Louie Giglio. It really opened my eyes more to what the Cross meant for me as a believer in Jesus.
First of all, it isn't true, what they say, that the Christian life was going to be an easy life. That God will always be the God we want Him to be; that He will never put us in a tight situation; or that in everything that happens, it alright, just because you're a Christian. Well, what if things get rough? What if they get so rough, you eventually come to that place where you question God's love for you, where you may question His existence, or where you just can't help but break down? What if? Where then, is the God that keeps us from the fires of life? Well, i'm here to tell you that that God doesn't exist. God is a God who makes you fireproof, not fire-less. Being fireproof doesn't mean that it'll never come, but that when it does, you'll be able to withstand it.
Now, back to what the Pastor was talking about, the Cross isn't something believers should cross once, and never to return again. Rather, it's the centerpoint of the Christian faith. It's when we take our eyes off the Cross that we begin to notice the waves all around us, and we forget to seek Jesus. When we focus our eyes on the Cross, we are reminded about how much love was proven on that very day at Calvary, and that He knows what's going on because He understands pain, despite our filth, He willingly took our place in death, and welcomed to His kingdom those who accepted Him.
Here in John16:33, Jesus talks about peace. True peace that can only be found in Him. The peace that He's freely given up for grabs to those who are willing to grasp it. But then, He says, "In this world, you will have trouble." If you think about it, peace and trouble are very opposite points in life, both of which, if you think about it, exist in the same sentence if they have "doesn't exist when there is" in the middle. However, Jesus continues, "But take heart! I have overcome the world."
As Pastor Louie Giglio said, this verse puts together two very different concepts, and associates them with what was going to happen a little while after. To have the peace Jesus was talking about, ou can't take the two sentences in this verse and focus on it, because that would lead to terrible theologies.
The first terrible theology when you take the verse apart, is that since you're a Christian, it's going to be smooth sailing from now on. Good times will come, and peace will be abundant. That sounds pretty twisted when you add a little reality to the broth.
The second, and more accepted terrible theology states that there's nothing but trouble in life, and that in order to live, you must accept it as it is, and just go on with your life. It's the more familiar theology in life, but nontheless, still very terrible.
Jesus takes two overlapping realities, and comforts us with His words. Yes, we're going to have troubles in life. Yes, it's not going to be easy, and it will bring us to the point of great distress sometimes, and it's not okay. But Jesus says, take heart! Have faith! Believe! Hold on! I have overcome the world. I am not bound by anything, and I will bring forth victory. Through this truth you have heard Me say, you will have peace.
The time i spent at KJ's house really got me through what was going on in my life. It's taught me to lean more onto Jesus and not let go of His promises. All the more, He's working out all things for the good.
Sometimes, we're put through fire. Sometimes, the sky's going to fall on us. Sometimes, the bottom's going to fall. But we have to remember that the Cross is what we should focus on if we call ourselves believers. It should remind us of what took place 2000 years ago. It should help us recall what our Savior went through, and that He isn't lacking in love. We should all the more turn to the Cross than from it when the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Jesus has overcome and overwhelmed it all, so let's take heart and hold on to this truth, and grasp the peace He's extending towards us!
1Corinthians1:18
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
