I have a terrible habit of reading the ending of a book shortly after I begin reading that book. As soon as I am invested in the book, I need to know the ending. Why? I want to prepare myself if the ending is sad or disappointing. Then, I can stop reading the book if I do not like the ending. It is a bad habit that I am trying to put an end to. The truth is that much fear and anxiety in life comes from a fear of disappointment. As much as we try to avoid discouragement and disappointment, life will always bring disappointments. During those disappointments, we must cling to the truth that, in the end, we will never be discouraged or disappointed if we have placed our faith in Christ.
In John 14, Jesus compelled His followers not to give in to discouragement. He had just explained that He would not be with them much longer. His death was imminent. Despite this heartbreaking news, Jesus did not want them to be discouraged, so He said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled" (verse 1). He did not want them to fall into discouragement even though He was going to leave them soon and die a tragic death on the cross. Next, Jesus gave them a reason not to be discouraged and a peak at what was to come in the future. He said, "There is more than enough room in my Father's home… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (verses 2-3). Even though the disciples were about to go through the heartache of watching Him die a brutal death on the cross, this was not the end of the story. In fact, it was not even close. Jesus was going to rise from the dead, defeating sin and death, and return to Heaven, where He would prepare a place for them. This was the future that the disciples had to look to, which is why they could have hope even in the most difficult times. While they might feel discouraged and disappointed while on this earth, they had the promise that they would never be let down in the end.
Jesus’ promise to His disciples is a promise for you, too. While this world will bring heartache, disappointment, and discouragement, we can cling to the truth that, in the end, with God, we will never be disappointed. Christ is preparing a place for us where we will spend eternity with Him forever. There is no greater hope than that.
Celebrate the truth that with God, we will never be left discouraged or disappointed this weekend! Come and worship with us at one of our weekend services and praise God that we know the end of the story, and it is good. Bring a friend with you!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
