Rest In Peace

Lightly Cleaned Transcription

Introduction

Today our emphasis on the fruit of the Spirit called “peace” comes to an end. The emphasis and the sermon series stops, but certainly this fruit of peace should continue to be evident in our lives. During these past eight weeks we have talked about:

• The real source of peace. Jesus gives us peace.
• Finding peace of mind.
• We can have peace in the eye of the storm.
• We can have peace in our troubled relationships.
• We can make peace with our mistakes and sins of the past.
• We can have peace with the material possessions God has provided.
• We can have peace even while we live in a sin-cursed world.

Today we are going to talk about the best peace of mind and heart that Christ has offered… eternal peace.

Before we get to our text let me ask a question: Should a Christian ever have a troubled heart? The answer is YES!!! Those who try to tell us that we are out of the will of God when we feel troubled are not in touch with reality.

Listen to these scriptures:

• “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.” John 11:33 [NKJV]
• “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.” John 12:27 [NKJV]
• “When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.'” John 13:21 [NKJV]

If the Son of God had a troubled heart, what makes me think I can do better? Listen, we are going to be troubled from time to time. It’s the stuff that life is made of. But Jesus is telling us that when those times come, we can find peace for our souls.

Why does Jesus tell his disciples at this time to not let their hearts be troubled?

• Perhaps they saw that he was troubled.
• They have just been told one of them would betray him.
• In John 13:33 Jesus told them he was going to leave them, and Peter is told that he will deny the Lord.

There are some very troubled, disturbed hearts in this room. Yet Jesus tells them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” Jesus calls their attention to a future event. It is the time when all of God’s children find their way to heaven. It is the place of perfect peace… the best peace is yet to come!

Five Reasons Why Our Future Has the Final Answers to All of Our Troubles

1. I Can Take Jesus at His Word

“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.” John 14:1 [NLT]

Jesus gives us an option in troubled times. We can focus in on the problem, its pain, and all the negativity that goes with it or… we can believe Jesus.

Example: One of my favorite stories is about the guy traveling through a wilderness place without water. Finally by chance he comes across a long forgotten cabin. Inside he finds a water pump, but it seems to be dry. Then he sees an old jug. He pulls the cork and inside is water. It is years old and smells foul. But it is water. There is a note written on the jug: “Use the water in the jug to prime the pump”. Does he chance it? He does and fresh cool water pours from the pump. He writes a follow up message on the note. “Believe me… it really works”.

Jesus spend 3 years of his earthly ministry trying to convince people that they could not only believe God, but believe in him as well.

• When he fed 1000’s he was saying: “Believe me!”
• When he cast out demons he was saying: “Believe me!”
• When he gave sight to the blind he was saying: “Believe me!”
• When he raise the dead to life he was saying: “Believe me!”
• When he arose on the 3rd day he was saying: “Believe me!”

When he says he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we can believe him. Have you trusted him as your Savior?

2. There Is a Place for Us Called Heaven

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 [NKJV]

One of the greatest emotional needs for humans is a place to call home, a place to belong.

Garden of Eden was a home prepared by God… yet sin cause them to lose that home.

Cain murdered his brother and was sentenced to a life of wondering… no place to call his own.

The people of Babel built a great city, full of home, but because of their opposition to God, they were scattered from their home.

Abraham was called out from one home filled with idols and idol worshippers to a new home. Yet the Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:10: “for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”.

Earthly homes are important and help fill a basic need in every human, but that need is not fully met until Jesus builds you a home.

Like Abraham we are in a strange land and even an enemy land. But there is coming a day when we will finally be home. This is our destiny.

3. Jesus Is Preparing a Place for Me

“…and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.” John 14:2 [NLT]

This point may seem like the last, but I believe we need to see a difference. There is a place called Heaven and Jesus is there. But in addition to this wonderful place, Jesus tells his disciples that he is preparing a personal place for each one.

Why? I am not sure of the answers because I do not know of anywhere else in the scriptures where it refers to this building project of the Lord for individuals.

James Montgomery Boice, a favorite commentator of mine, says that perhaps we put the emphasis on the wrong words. Instead of thinking about “prepare”, we should focus on the words, “for me”. The promise is that there is a special place being prepared just for me. Wow!

Example: Have you every decorated a room for one person in mind? A baby nursery is a good example. When one of our daughters was expecting, I made the mistake of going into a Baby R Us store with Carolyn. I figure a good crib and a diaper pail really ought to spruce a room up. Man was I in for a shock. I had never seen so many decorations. You could get wallpaper, lamps, pull cords, and even light switch plates. And we bought every one of them.

Like the hopeful expectations of an expectant mother, Jesus knows we are coming home. It’s just a matter of days… and he knows the date. Do we really expect Jesus will take less care of those whom he loves? He died for me. I imagine that my room is going to be place that especially fits me and eternity will not be too long to live in it.

4. Jesus Is Coming Back Again

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again…” John 14:3 [NKJV]

Last year I read a book entitled: The Ghost Soldiers. The book was about the WWII rescue of American soldiers on the Island of Bataan. When the Americans and their Allies were overwhelmed by Japanese forces, MacArthur pulled out of the area to safety. He told the inhabitants of the Island that he would return.

He left behind over 31,000 American soldiers. 30 months later when he did return, an elite group of soldiers were sent deep into the Island to rescue the POW’s. The rescue was a success. The disheartening part of the story was there was only a little over 513 Americans still alive of the 31,000 taken captive.

MacArthur returned, but way to late.

Jesus too has promised to return and the great news is this: Not one soul will be lost.

“Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.'” John 10:25-30 [NKJV]

5. I Will Be with Jesus Forever

“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:3 [NLT]

Example: “As a kid, I did a lot of worrying. I had very little peace. One of the things I thought about was what would happen to me and my siblings if something happened to my Mom and Dad. Who would take us in? I had a favorite aunt and uncle who I wished would be ones to adopt us.”

The remaining handwritten example on the final page becomes difficult to read with confidence, but the direction of the closing is clear: the peace Jesus gives is not abstract. It is the settled assurance that his people are wanted, provided for, and finally brought home into his presence forever.

Turn to Rev. 21:1-7.