Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled - John 14:1

Tonia O. Alabi

This words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples preparing them for his departure could not be more appropriate as soothing words for the people of our time.

The world we live in now does not promise us any peace. All we see, hear and experience bring no peace, yet we can experience peace, as promised by our Lord and Saviour but he gave a condition. We have to love him and keep his commandments- John 14:15.

This article is set to address two issues.

One, is the issue I come to hear Christians and even Catholics discuss this days. The discourse, is based on who will get to make Heaven. More people are of the belief that people of faith, who live doing good cannot be denied heaven. So far as you live peacefully with your neighbour and know God, you will make Heaven.

The other issue is to look at what Jesus promises us. He made three promises to his disciples and to all of us who know him as our Lord and Saviour though with a condition, that we must know and accept him as the son of a God, and love him who gave his up his life that we may have life and have it abundantly. 

So we now know that it is important we love Jesus for we owe him our lives, we owe him everything we have. So it is not enough for us to say we know him and say we accept him as the son of God. We need to move a step further to show our love for him by keeping the Commandments of God the Father. Because he is one in with the Father he knows us through and through. We cannot hide ourselves from him. He sees what our human relations cannot see when we are away from them. He knows our thoughts even before we think them, but gives us the will to make our choices. The choices we make show our love for him. So it's is not to say I know Jesus, it is more important to love him by the choices we make in our life circumstances. Let his commandments guide our steps and actions. Live your life taking the right decisions and Jesus will keep his promises which he made to his disciples, to you.  In John 14: he says I do not give as the world gives

We all know the Ten Commandments of God and the one Jesus emphasises most is the Love of God and neighbour. When we keep this command we will not run into many troubles we find ourselves. We will not covet nor steal nor kill. These are the vices that the evil one proposes and promote to us this days. That is the evil the world celebrate. Our body is the temple of God but what do you do with your body. I watch the television abroad and see gay men come in to a scene discussing their issues as man and woman, so it is with the women. This is not the will of God. God never makes a mistake. When you love God, you love His son and would not do that which makes his blood shed on the Cross to be shed in vain.

To love God is to love His son and to keep His commandments (John 14:21,) then you can experience the peace He gives not as the world gives 14:16. Money and a lot of money cannot give you a lasting peace.

Jesus's promises to us when we bring ourselves to love him are quite clear as stated in the book of John, chapter 14: 15-31.) 
He promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit - The Spirit of truth, which sets us free. Free from all temptations, sins and the burden of our sins.

He promises not to leave us as orphans. That is, He and His father will live in us and we in him and the Father. So doing the will of God will not be difficult for us. We are also sure of a room in his Father's house. A home in Heaven.

Then comes the promise that we all seek. You may ask me for anything and I will give you-John 14:14. If you love me, you will ask of me and you will receive only as God the Father will give. Ask and you shall receive, perfected I say.

The way the world gives is not God's way, so why not wait upon God the Author of life. He knows you and has a purpose for your life even he created the foundation of the earth. We have failed to wait upon God and we take things into our hands, the consequences of which we may not be able to bear. Let us wait upon Him for his time is always perfect.

I believe you need to read through John 14 to be able to understand what it takes for us to make Heaven. I know from this book what it takes to make Heaven; love God, love his son Jesus our Saviour and keep His Commandments.

May we all make Heaven for we are Winners in Christ. 

PRAY, FAST AND LOVE JESUS, GIVING ALMS TO THOSE IN NEED THIS SEASON OF LENT.