LEARNING DAILY

 

John 16:33, “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.” Jesus

 

Do you become fearful when you read about the end times and all the things that will happen during these times? Are you fearful looking at the conditions of this ungodly, unrighteous world? You know what is happening if you watch the news or read anything that reports what is happening. If you answer yes to these questions, go back to the verse above and reread it. Even if you are a Bible scholar, go back and read it as if you have never read it before.

 

I want you to notice several things that Jesus said. First, you are going to experience tribulations, especially as a Christian. Tribulations come from the Greek word thlipsis which basically means pressure. We experience all sorts of pressures in this world; it is a fact of life. That leads to the second part of the verse. Jesus has overcome the world. I wonder why Jesus said He had overcome the world and not the tribulation(s) we face. David Jeremiah has written, “Jesus doesn’t just overcome the event. He overcomes the environment in which the event occurs.” The note in the JSESB states, “In effect, He says to them, “Things may look dark, however, despite how they look, everything is under control; trust what I have said and believe Me!”

 

 Things that are occurring around us – inflation spiraling out of control, a pandemic that is causing all sorts of fear, craziness in the public schools, and on and on – make us wonder about who we can believe and trust. In the midst of these circumstances, Jesus speaks to us from His word the encouragement we need. He tells us to “be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” He reminds us that it is “in Me you may have peace”.

 

Jesus told His disciples and us in John 14:27 what He meant about peace, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Trusting Jesus does not mean you and I will not have difficulties; anyone who has walked with Him for very long understands that very well. Notice where Jesus said His peace would be. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” The JSESB notes give valuable insight. “The peace of the world is but surface; that given by Christ is in the heart. The peace of God heals the troubled heart, and takes away fear.”

 

My desire is to create an awareness of what is happening in this world today. I want each of us to “stay ready for Christ’s return for His Church so no one has to try to get ready” (Ed Newton). At the same time I do not want to create fear because of what is happening in the world today. Only He knows when He will sound the trumpet that calls His Church to Him. It is our responsibility to discern the times and be ready! We stay ready by continuing to grow closer to Him and by walking the narrow way to His kingdom and eternal life with Him.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  I have added Jimmy Swaggart’s Expositor’s Study Bible to be referred to from now on as JSESB