"Ye Believe In God, Believe Also In Me"      

John 14:1

 

     Worry, anxiety and fear are totally contrary to faith in Christ. There is no reason for these things to plague our hearts. I do not say that worry and faith cannot exist in the same person. I know, by painful experience, that they do! But I am saying that worry, fear and anxiety are as contrary to faith as theft, adultery and murder. And we are responsible for them. Here are six assurances of grace that should keep our hearts free of trouble, if we believe God.

1. Our sins are all forgiven. When a man's sins are forgiven what cause can he have for complaint? (Read Ps. 103:1-13.) We who believe have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, robed in his spotless right- eousness and born of his Spirit.We are the sons of God!

2. Our interests in Christ are perfectly safe (Rom. 8:28-39). Our union with Christ cannot be broken. Faith in Christ cannot be destroyed.Our inheritance in Christ cannot be lost. We can never lose what Christ has won!

3. The troubles we now endure are not by accident. The hand of the all-wise God, our Savior, rules the world, absolutely. It is his hand that sends both trouble and relief,as he deems best for our good and his own glory.

4. All our trials and troubles in this world are working for our eternal, spiritual good and God's everlasting glory. "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Cor. 4:17). Our afflictions are light when compared with what we deserve, what others have suffered, what our Savior suffered for us and with the glory that awaits us in heaven. And compared with eternity, they are but for a moment. My heart, be assured, God knows what he is doing. He is doing his people good! He is making himself an everlasting and a glorious name!

5. Though our troubles may be many, our Savior has not left us comfortless (John 14:18). Christ has given us his peace (John 14:27),assured us of his presence (Isa. 41:10) and promised us his protection (Ps. 91:1-4).

6. And our trials here will soon be over (John 14:1-3, Isa. 25:8; Rev. 14:3). All that now troubles us, all that now worries us, all that now vexes our souls will soon come to an end. And in eternity most of that which now troubles us will not matter at all. So, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

 

Don Fortner