Christ for the Age of Crisis – “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1)

by Steven Chan

From Thursday, March 8, 2012 to Saturday, March 10, 2012, six churches of Christ in the Klang Valley will be working together in a Gospel Campaign with bro John Moore (who is the narrator in the DVD, Search For Truth) as the featured speaker. The theme of the Gospel Campaign is “Christ for the Age of Crisis”. We encourage every member to do their best to invite their friends to the Campaign.

The lyrics of a familiar hymn start with these words: “Troublesome times are here; filling men’s hearts with fear”.  In John 16:33, Jesus said to His disciples: “In the world you will have tribulation.” During Job’s period of suffering from intense loss – in almost all areas of his life, Job made this observation in Job 14:1-2: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.”

The world we live in certainly fits the words of that hymn and reflects the truth of what Jesus & Job said.

However, the Bible also declares the wonderful news in John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The apostle Paul declared in Rom 8:31-32: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Whilst it is a fact that in this world, we will have troubles, yet we should not lose hope because God has declared His love for us – not only in paying the price of allowing His Son to die on the cross in order to secure our redemption, but also in promising to continue to bless, guide as well as strengthen us as we go through the challenges of this life.

So, the Bible comforts us: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” …Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Phil 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7-8; Heb 13:5-6; 4:16).

For those who place their trust in God, we have the Lord as our Shepherd and Guide. We can share the comfort words of the Psalmist in Psalms 23:-

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

More importantly, for those who trust in the God who created the universe, we have Hope in His Promise that there is life after death: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”(John 11:25-26). Death is not the end for those who trust in God; it is a transition to eternal life in heaven.

So Jesus assures us not to be too troubled by this Age of Crisis:-

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:1-6).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…” (1 Peter 1:3-6).

The Bible urges us to “lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Heb 6:18-19).

We need to share the good news of this hope with our friends and family members. Let us make plans to take leave from our busy secular employment to work together to invite them to hear this good news that will be powerfully proclaimed by bro John Moore from March 8 to March 10, 2012.