PROMISES YOU CAN DEPEND ON
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. —John 16:33
What is a promise? It is when someone gives their word about something— “I take you as my wife/husband until death parts us. It is a verbal or written contract— marriage license. It is an assurance— I will be there at 10am. When a person gives a promise it is a pledge that they will absolutely do something.
Jesus gives us 3 promises in the verse above: 1- We can have peace in Him. 2- In this world we will have trouble. 3- We can have courage because He has overcome the world.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). It is only through Him that we can have peace with God having previously been enemies (Romans 5:1, 10). He gives us peace the midst of the storms of life (Mark 4:39). He gives us a peace that the world cannot give us (John 14:27). Are you at peace with God? Are you experiencing His peace even in the middle of a life storm? Are you seeking peace from the world or are you experience the peace that only Jesus can give you?
This world is full of trouble because it is a fallen world. Since Adam and Eve sinned the whole of creation was affect… infected by sin. It affects every area of creation. We are told that the creation groans because of its subjection to sin’s affect (Romans 8:19-25). As part of that creation we also groan at times because of the difficulties we go through. But, the Prince of Peace can give us peace during these times and at all times as we trust Him.
Jesus has overcome the world and it is because of His overcoming that we will overcome as well. He rose from the dead (Romans 1:4), was seen by many after He had risen (I Corinthians 15:1-8), was seen ascending back to heaven with the promise that He would return the same way (Acts 1:9-11). If Jesus did not rise from the dead then all of “Christianity” is lie. The Apostle Paul said, “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Corinthians 15:12-20).
Listen, you can count on these 3 promises that Jesus gave in the above verse to come true, they will happen. We can have peace in Him if we trust Him. We will have troubles in this fallen world. Don’t be surprised by that. We are over-comers because Jesus over-came this world, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven and so one day we will also! Rejoice!
Dear Father, thank You for these promises in Jesus and the great hope that You have given us in Him. May we have that peace that only He can give and life faithfully until we get home to heaven! May it be so!