Take Heart, I Am Not Leaving You Alone  

Last time I told you I wanted to use my podcast to talk about things that matter. What matters to me is hope and healing. Biblical Hope is not making a wish and blowing out birthday candles. It is a sure expectation that what God promised will happen. That He can be trusted to be absolutely who He says He is. My most profound healing occurs when I look to the future with a grateful heart.   

And that is what Jesus was encouraging His disciples to do in John 14 right after He told them He was leaving.  He said, “I am going to be leaving you but take heart I am not leaving you alone. The Comforter is coming. I am asking the Father and He will send Him at my request.” So let not your hearts be troubled.

Jesus is Coming in a Two-Part Series  

When Jesus rode into town on a donkey to shouts of Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna, the disciples were poised and ready to reign with the long-awaited Messiah. They were thinking, “This is going to great. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah and He has come to take over the world.” This would be a military battle they were sure to win. And when the Roman government knelt before the King of kings, they would be by His side to rule with Him.    

It’s as if they had no idea there would be two comings. Aren’t there Old Testament passages that should have clued them in that Jesus’ coming is a two-part series? They were ready for the 2^nd coming. But Jesus is telling them first things first. A debt had to be settled. God’s wrath over sin had to be satisfied. And in this first coming, God would pour His wrath on His own Son. Jesus Christ paid the debt for all sins as the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God.   

What do I Turn to When I am Distressed?  

Jesus had just told the disciples His departure was imminent and that has them confused and agitated. Jesus has been with them for 3 years and they are ready for the conquering hero to finally emerge.  

That makes me stop and question, “What do I typically turn to when I am agitated, when I hear distressing news I have no control over?”  

Let’s see, some Chocolate -always. Dove darks are my favorite. Shopping -because of course I need another shirt on clearance. If I am really feeling bad, I go to shoes or coats. Cute shoes and a good jacket really make me feel better about myself. Binge watching shows or my favorite YouTube channels may come next. Also, I have recently discovered Instagram reels – hilarious! And I likely would get together and talk with friends, let them help me hash it out, tell me it’s not my fault, and I deserve to indulge myself.  

None of these are bad in moderation. God gives us gifts to enjoy. But the problem is the feeling I get from them doesn’t last.   

My Different Personas Fight  

I have a nighttime persona and a morning persona. Does your nighttime person think differently than your morning person? Nighttime Julie that talks me into binge watching is a liar. But I don’t remember this at night when I think it’s such a great idea to stay up late because I don’t really need that much sleep. And then morning comes, and morning Julie is cursing nighttime Julie, asking why would you believe her? She is a liar.  

Even the words of encouragement from friends is limited if it’s not based on a foundation of Truth. I am all for getting together and talking things out with a friend. But if we never get around to something of substance based on Truth that the Holy Spirit can use to instill real courage, it won’t last. 

Jesus Points Us to Heaven   

When Jesus told His disciples He would be leaving them, the Truth He wants them to hold on to, the Truth that will provide real Hope so their hearts will not be troubled is this:  if they trust Him, they can be assured He is going to take care of them. He is right now preparing a place for His brothers and sisters in His Father’s House. He tells them He will come back to get them because He wants them to be with Him in heaven. Then after He is resurrected, He no longer calls them friend, He says you’re my brothers. And to the women with them -you’re my sisters. We have the same Father. And it is His kind intention to bring the Family to live together in His Father’s House that has many rooms.  

When the disciples’ hearts were troubled, Jesus pointed them to heaven and the beautiful place He was preparing for them!   

A Glimpse of Heaven  

Set Your Mind Above  

As I have studied what heaven will be like, I agree with Randy Alcorn when he said in his book, Heaven, the starting point will be like the Garden of Eden before sin messed it up. God said it was good in Genesis. And then throughout the Bible and into Revelation we see pictures of how He intends to expand on that. Streets of gold, pearly gates, rivers, gardens. This is a physical place that really isn’t all that hard to imagine. We will be who we were made to be in Christ – the best versions of ourselves here are just a glimpse of who we can be without sin. All our creativity and giftedness used for God’s Glory. We won’t be messing up our relationships with petty jealousy or selfishness. We will feast together and sing and dance but also have satisfying work to do and lands to explore. Every tongue and tribe with all kinds of diversity – each using the gifts God gave us to bring Him glory. Concerts with all kinds of instruments and sports with the best competition for the love of the game. Try to imagine it. And then set your mind on it. As you do, you will see God gives us glimpses of heaven every day. What His Kingdom will look like when He brings Heaven down and to redeem the earth.  

  Do I Believe Nothing Could Be Better?  

Every morning, I sit on my back porch and wait for the sun to rise. It’s as if God is making His face to shine upon me. And I say thank you God for coming and meeting with me. Even on the cloudy days, He breaks through the darkness with His glorious light.  

So why would I ever think anything here on this earth could be better than heaven?   

Everyone wants to go to heaven, but I have noticed no one is in a hurry to get there. Well, almost no one. When my father-in-law – we called him Pops- was ready to go Home to Heaven, he was frustrated that it was taking too long, and he motioned for us to get this show on the road. “I’m ready,” he said.  

Sure enough, after a short time, he raised his hands with the little strength he had, and peace washed over his countenance as he breathed his last breath. His time of death was 3:46 pm. That’s 15:46 military time.  

A Time of Significance  

It didn’t take long for the significance of the time of death to jolt Eric and me in awestruck wonder. Or son Nicholas’s personal record for a 5K when he was 16 years old was 15:46. That was what he ran his last race before he died. He had broken the school record with that time. We assumed he would have many more opportunities to break it again and again. Only he didn’t. That would be his last. Many of his friends and teammates had tattooed that time on their bodies in memory of him. 

Now for us, the time took on a different significance. It was as if God was saying Pops died at His appointed time. He had finished the race, and our Nicholas was there at the finish line to greet him. He may have said something like “Hey Pops, I’m glad you’re here. I think you’re going to like it. Now let’s go see Jesus.  He wants to give you a hug, just like He did me.”  

Heaven Sounds Great, But It Can Wait  

I think if we are honest, most of us do not want to go to heaven until we see our goals and plans fulfilled for ourselves and our children and our children’s children. We have decided 80 something is just about the right age to be called Home. And when it does not work out that way, we are so flustered. As if the Sovereign Ruler of the universe got it wrong when He said He numbered our days.  

God knows grieving is hard. He knows what He is asking us to endure. But as Christians we do not grieve as those who have no hope. The Glory that awaits is worth far more than anything God asks us to suffer here. Nothing here compares.   

Why Are We Sad for Those in Heaven?  

There is no need to be sad for the person who has eternal life and whose soul and spirit are immediately ushered into the presence of the Lord when they shed their earthly body.  

They are not dead. Let’s stop saying that. Death is separation from God. If we know someone is a true believer, when they leave this earth they are more alive than they have ever been. They just crossed the finish line to immediately join the great cloud of witnesses that are cheering the rest of us on. We who are left behind grieve deeply. But hope is available to those who have the courage to learn how to live until we can join them on the road to eternity.  

It’s A Lot to Take In  

Jesus told His disciples they knew the way. And when Thomas questioned how they were supposed to know the way, Jesus said, “I am the Way, and I am the Truth, and I am the Life. And no one gets to the Father in Heaven except by going through me. Then He told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would rejoice that He was going to His Father in Heaven.   

So, shouldn’t we rejoice when one of God’s children goes to heaven?  

This is a lot to take in. And Jesus knows it was for them too. He promises He will not leave them as orphans. They will not be desolate and feel helpless because when He leaves, He will send His Spirit to comfort and help them. The Holy Spirit will make everything plain and will energize their heart and mind.   

This is a lot to take in. And Jesus knows it was for them too. He promises He will not leave them as orphans. They will not be desolate and feel helpless because when He leaves, He will send His Spirit to comfort and help them. The Holy Spirit will make everything plain and will energize their heart and mind.   

Jesus can leave them in peace because He is making a right relationship with a holy God possible. The peace He is giving to them is not the absence of conflict. It is the kind of fulness and blessing that dissolves fear and secures composure in the midst of trials. It rules in the hearts of God’s people to maintain harmony.   

Why Do We Continue to Be Troubled?   

Jesus said stop it. Stop it. We do not have to permit ourselves to be intimidated by fear and anxiety. I know that is saying a lot. Medication and therapy can be helpful tools. But if we ignore our spirit, we will never be whole.   

Jesus began His Priestley ministry by asking the Father to send the Comforter. We have access to the Holy Spirit living in us. And it is His job to comfort and guide and help us remember God’s faithfulness as He gives us peace. Jesus spoke these things to His disciples while He was still with them to calm their fears and encourage them to remember this when they are asked to do hard things.    

And that’s a word for us today. Let not your hearts be troubled. We are not going to be asked to do hard things forever. May we be encouraged to look forward to the glorious day when we Jesus will come for the 2^nd time. And this time, at His return, we will reign and rule with Him and for all eternity.