If you follow this blog/podcast you know that at times I get frustrated and even agitated by the totalitarian direction a small group of depraved leaders in government, media, technology, healthcare, and education are moving my country, the United States. As I reflect on my reaction, I see that part of it is due to fear of a bleak future for me, my family, my students, and our community. Another part of me is angry at any control which seeks to restrict people from proclaiming and hearing the truth, especially the truth about God. I know that I can’t do much to change this wayward march, but God can. He can change the direction of things and he can save people going in the wrong direction. I pray that he does. Whether you are burdened by the evil around you. Whether you feel stuck in your own wrongdoing. Whether you feel depressed and you can’t identify why. Or whether you feel weary in doing good. You can find solace and solutions with God.
A few weeks ago after I was praying about this, my wife shared with me a passage from Psalm 112 which was a helpful reminder in adversity. “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor” (Psalm 112:6-9).
Who are the righteous that this passage talks about? For no one is righteous by their own character or merit. Everyone has done wrong and falls short of the abundant life God created them to have. We like sheep have all strayed from God’s providence. Fortunately, Jesus is the good shepherd who can rescue you (John 10:1-18). He is God the Son who became a man, lived the life we should have lived, died the death that we deserve for our waywardness, and rose again to give us victory. Anyone who follows Jesus receives his righteousness (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus the righteous are those who have a right relationship with God by trusting in Jesus. There is no other way to be saved and experience true peace, joy, and fulfillment. So to rephrase the passage from Psalm 112, because of their life in Jesus the righteous are unshaken, they have no need to fear, they have a lasting influence, they will be vindicated, they will surpass their enemies, and they will be exalted. In addition, the Bible describes countless more blessings for all who trust in Jesus.
To encourage you, especially if you feel burdened, I’d like to spotlight three of these blessings—the peace, joy, and fulfillment you can experience by being united with God through Jesus. Some of this insight is from a book my late uncle wrote titled, “Sojourners.”
Peace
Jesus taught his followers, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives…” (John 14:27). There is a stillness of spirit and soul unknown to the world. It is the stillness of peace, perfect peace (Psalm 46:10). Like the emerald blue of an alpine lake, it fills the soul and captures the spirit…there is no desire to look elsewhere…this moment is unmatched…this is what the soul longs for. Only Jesus can give this peace—it is his peace, the peace that comes from a perfect relationship, the Image of God and God himself, the Son and the Father. The Son loves the Father—he seeks only to please him and carry out his purpose. He does what the Father shows him and says what the Father tells him…because the Father loves him (John 4:34, 8:29, 15:9-10). This is all he desires—the Father’s love. This is righteousness—he does what the Father wants him to do. This is justice—he cares for everyone the same way the Father cares for him. This is mercy and kindness—he loves just as the Father loves. This is faithfulness—he gives of himself, just as the Father does, until the work is done and God’s purpose is fulfilled. There is no desire or motivation to move out of this relationship—there is perfect love here, and that is the source of peace, perfect peace. When you receive the coming of God’s rule, his kingdom, in Jesus, he gives you his peace, not just forgiveness of sins and the power of his life within you, but his relationship with the Father, his love for the Father. If you live in that relationship, your spirit and soul will know the stillness of peace.
Joy
After teaching his followers that they can and should draw fruitful life from him as a branch does from the vine Jesus concluded with, “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be full” (John 15:1-11) In the eyes of the world there are many things that can bring happiness—family, achievements, success, wealth, fame, power, possessions, entertainment, security, leisure, pleasure. But Jesus has a different outlook. Near the end of his time on earth with his disciples, Jesus took a towel and a basin of water and did the work of a lowly servant. One by one he washed their feet, dusty from walking the roads with him. “I have given you an example,” he said, “that you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:1-17). It was not just a symbol that he would wash away their sins by his death on the Cross. It was an illustration of the life that he would live in them after his resurrection. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14:6) he would soon say to them…and previously, at the raising of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:17-27) The life in Jesus is the life of eternity, the wisdom and power of God that designed and created and sustains the universe and all that inhabits it. The life in Jesus is the source of life for all that God has made (John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-20). And that life has come to earth and taken the form of a servant, humbling himself, obedient unto death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). That obedience redeems sinners. That obedience brings the joy of redemption. Jesus’ joy is the joy of obeying the Father and bringing many people to glory (Hebrews 12:2; John 17:1-26). Jesus’ joy is the joy of life that has overcome sin and death forever. His joy can be your joy by actively resting in him and relying on him as he works through you to bear the fruit of saving others and bringing God glory.
Fulfillment
Jesus taught, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). The kingdom of God is where God’s will is done and the promises of Jesus become effective. Jesus also said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). What joy there is when we are living close to Jesus, as branches of the vine, bearing fruit because his life flows through us to others, seeing our prayers answered with power because his words fill our thoughts, direct our hearts, and spring from our lips. We have entered the kingdom by receiving God’s rule in Jesus, by abiding in him and his words. There is a peace here that passes understanding, and a joy that overflows in fullness. This all comes from abiding in Jesus, from living in him and sharing his relationship to the Father.
Pursue an ever-deepening relationship with God, for there is blessing with him beyond imagination. Desire to love Jesus so much that you keep his word, that you do all that he said you should do. You will experience the love of your heavenly Father in a fresh way, a direct way. Heaven comes to earth–the Father and the Son share their life with you and in you. You know the peace and joy and the fulfillment of becoming all you were meant to be through oneness with the Father and the Son. Jesus requested this for you, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message [the message of his disciples], that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-24).
Conclusion
Are you worn out by your own wrongdoing or the evil of others? Do you feel beaten up or trampled down, betrayed or rejected, disappointed or weary? Jesus understands. He experienced everything you will ever face and triumphed over it. He offers his hand in salvation. Take his hand by faith and he will draw you close as he delivers you from your sin and delivers you through the evil caused by others. He is calling you, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Amidst the adversity and evil in our society, I desire to abide in Jesus like a branch in the vine. Will you join me? Abide in Jesus by trusting and obeying him and you will enjoy the serenity of unity and completeness with God now and forever. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11).