Believer, What Troubles You?

Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. John 14:1-4

What was it that would cause the disciples to be so troubled in heart as to need this word of comfort from Jesus? It was their sin. Peter was about to deny the Lord, and the rest of the disciples would forsake him in the hour of His greatest suffering. Even so, do our sins cause us much trouble. We who believe on Christ like Peter say, “Lord I would die with you!” We mean it with all our hearts, but let the Lord leave us to do it in our own strength and most surely we would deny him. At times, when Christ is near, we are able to walk on the waves of our troubles, but let Him hide his face and we begin to sink into despair (Psalm 143:7).

Here then is a word of comfort to such poor wretches who cannot save or keep ourselves, but are totally dependent upon God. Though your sin be ever so great and though your failures be ever so complete, Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled…” Sin does trouble our hearts, but here is the remedy; “ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Believer, in the very despair of thy sin, believe that God is just and holy. That thy sin surely deserves hell, but also believe on Christ who by His death has suffered the hell thy sin deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 40:2).

Remember that in the Father’s house are many dwelling places and that Christ has prepared them all. Believer thy surety of heaven rests not in your faithfulness or perfect obedience but in the faithfulness and perfection of Jesus thy surety. Have you believed on the Son of God? Have you trusted in Him alone? Then He has prepared a place in heaven for you and none will be able to separate us from it (Romans 8: 31-39).

Are you troubled by this world and the pains of this life? Are you oppressed by sin and vexed by Satan? Then rejoice for He who prepared a place will also come again and receive us unto Himself that where He is we may be also. Who or what then can separate us from Christ? God is pleased with us in Christ. Our sins are gone through His one offering, and now the Holy Spirit has made us righteous. Let not your heart be troubled.

-Fred Evans