BE OF GOOD CHEER

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world – John 16.33b

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And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith – Hebrews 12.1 and 2

Have you ever seen small children being afraid? Or small children hurting themselves when tripping? When children are distressed, they cry for help. They need their parents to comfort them and to solve their problems. Sometimes parents fail to comfort their children or to solve their problems. Parents can do their best, but they are limited in what they can do for their children. There is One Who is not limited. That Carer and Provider is God.

A good Carer

A long time ago, there was just God and nothing else[1]. Then God created heaven and earth[2]: He spoke and it was. God created it, because He wanted to. Everything God wants, is good[3]. There is no one higher than Him who can tell Him what to do[4]. He is the only Governor. He made water, trees, flowers, insects, fruits and everything else we see around us. He made Adam and Eve as well[5]. They were the first people on earth. Everything God made was perfect[6]. God loved everything He had created. Adam and Eve loved it as well. Most of all they loved God. He cared for them[7]. Every day God talked with them[8]. They lived in harmony with God. Adam and Eve obeyed God. That was exactly what God expected from them[9]. Adam and Eve didn’t lack anything.

A powerful Carer

God cares for everything with power[10]. Nothing can stop Him from doing what He wants[11]. No person, no spirit, no circumstance can hinder Him[12]. Nothing is beyond His control, even in our lives. Sometimes it may seem that we are subject to chance. We may think that some aspects in life are beyond God’s power. But the Bible says that He works all things after the counsel of His own will[13].

A merciful Carer

Although Adam and Eve lived happily, they decided to disobey God[14]. They ate from a tree of which God said that they shouldn’t. Everything changed because of their disobedience[15]. Now we face many bad things in life, such as diseases, death, disagreement, poverty and abuse. Our hearts became bad as well[16]: they cause us to do, think and say terrible things, such as pride, jealousy, stinginess, distrust, self-centeredness and dissatisfaction. Now, we want God to serve us, instead of us serving God[17]. These things, and many more, aren’t right in God’s eyes. They are all called sins. Everyone does many sins[18]. Because of our sinful hearts, we are separated from God and deserve to be far from Him in hell in eternity[19]. There is no way we can save ourselves from our sins[20].

Did God stop to care for His creation because of our sins? No, He didn’t![21] He still cares for the world we live in. He still cares for us. He provides us with what we need: rain, food, sunshine, a place to live and much more. We depend on Him completely to survive. Out of grace, God cares for people who sin against Him[22].

We see God’s ultimate mercy when we look at Jesus. God sent His Son Jesus to earth[23]. Jesus showed compassion for the people. He cared for them. He even died for them on the cross[24]. His death was the only way that sins could be forgiven[25]. That’s how terrible sin is! Everyone who depends on Jesus alone for salvation, is truly forgiven. That person has become a child of God[26] and will experience God’s special care for His people[27]. Whatever happens in their lives, is for their good[28].

A wise Carer

God knows what is best[29]. He governs with wisdom[30]. He wants to restore everything as it was before Adam and Eve sinned. He wants people to obey and glorify Him[31]. Our lives are part of God’s good plan to restore everything for His own glory[32]. We can’t understand all of His plan. Sometimes pleasant things happen in our lives, like a good harvest, marriage, food to  eat and clothes to wear. We should be thankful to God Who gives us these blessings[33]. Sometimes unpleasant things happen. Then we should be patient and not complain[34]. God doesn’t make mistakes. We must trust Him for His wisdom.

A faithful Carer

Especially in hard times, it is often difficult to trust God. Facing challenges can make us think that God doesn’t care or that He isn’t in control.

In the Bible we read many examples of people who went through hard times. Despite that, they persevered to trust God for His goodness, power, mercy and wisdom.

Daniel was thrown in the lions’ den for not giving up praying[35]. Hanna was laughed at for not bearing a child[36]. Job lost his children and belongings and became sick[37]. King Hezekiah got sick to death[38]. Moses was mocked at by the people he set free from slavery[39]. Steven was killed because he confessed Jesus as His Saviour[40]. Paul was mistreated and beaten because he preached Jesus[41]. Joseph’s brothers sold him to foreigners[42]. Nehemiah’s enemies wanted to kill him for rebuilding Jerusalem, the city of God[43].

These people are examples to us. They cried out to God for help and didn’t give up their faith in the good, powerful, merciful and wise God[44]. In their pain, they surrendered themselves to God. They refused to compromise to sin. Sometimes God rescued them. Sometimes God didn’t give His people what they asked for, because He had a better plan.

In the Bible we read a story of young men who persevered and surrendered themselves to God[45]. They were told to kneel down for an idol, but refused to do so. The king told them that if they wouldn’t kneel down, they would be thrown in fire and die. Those men answered that God is mighty to deliver them, ‘But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up’[46]. They wanted to obey God alone, even if that would mean their death.

So, in hard times, trust God, persevere and refuse to sin[47]. Be ensured that God will never leave His people. Once He has accomplished His plan with their lives, He will take them with Him in Heaven[48]. He will never leave them, because He is faithful[49].

A just Carer

When Jesus will come again, He will judge everyone[50]. He will separate His people from those who are not His[51]: those who received Him as their only Lord from those who didn’t receive Him. His judgment will be just and irreversible[52]. Those who aren’t His, will live in hell forever, excluded from God’s care[53]. If you are not yet one of His people, repent from your sin and ask the Saviour Jesus to save you from your sin[54]. Everyone who is His, will live in Heaven for ever, glorifying the One Who always cared for them out of grace[55].

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And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved – Matthew 10.22

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[1] Colossians 1.17, [2] Genesis 1 and 2, [3] Psalm 119.68, Psalm 100.5, [4] 1 Chronicles 29.11, Psalm 97.9, [5] Genesis 1.27, [6] Genesis 1.31, Psalm 104.24, [7] Genesis 2.9, Genesis 2.15-17, [8] Genesis 3.8, [9] Genesis 2.16 and 17, [10] Psalm 93.1 and 4, Psalm 103.19, [11] Psalm 135.6, Isaiah 43.13, [12] Psalm 89.6 and 9, Psalm 91.10, Isaiah 14.27, Proverbs 21.1, Job 1.12, [13] Ephesians 1.11, Proverbs 19.21, Proverbs 16.33, [14] Genesis 3.6, [15] Genesis 3.14-19, Romans 3.19, [16] Genesis 6.5, Mark 7.21-23, Jeremiah 17.9, Romans 1.30 and 31, Psalm 14.1-3, [17] Philippians 2.21, 1 Samuel 4.3, Numeri 23.27, [18] James 3.2, Romans 3.11, [19] Isaiah 57.15, Isaiah 59.2, John 3.36, Ezra 9.15, [20] Romans 3.20, [21] Colossians 1.17, Acts 17.24-27, Psalm 65.9-13, Psalm 104.14, Job 37.6-13, [22] Psalm 145.16, Matthew 5.45, [23] 1 John 4.9, 1 John 4.14, [24] Matthew 27, [25] 2 Corinthians 5.21, John 3.14-16, Galatians 3.3, [26] John 1.12, Galatians 3.26, [27] Matthew 10.29, Romans 8.32, [28] Romans 8.35-39, 2 Corinthians 5.1, Hebrews 12.6-8, James 1.3 and 4, [29] Psalm 92.5, [30] Isaiah 28.29, Psalm 145.3, [31] Isaiah 45.22 and 23, Isaiah 43.19, Micah 6.8, [32] Ephesians 1.9-11, Jeremiah 9.24, [33] Deuteronomy 8.10, [34] Romans 5.3, Psalm 39.9, [35] Daniel 6, [36] 1 Samuel 1.6, [37] Job 1 and 2, [38] 2 Kings 20.1, [39] Exodus 15.24, [40] Acts 8, [41] 1 Corinthians 4.11-13, [42] Genesis 37.28, [43] Nehemiah 6 and 7, [44] Psalm 55.23. Romans 8.18, [45] Daniel 3, [46] Daniel 3.18, [47] Deuteronomy 31.8, Psalm 73.26, Philippians 4.6, [48] James 1.12, [49] Psalm 125.3, Isaiah 41.10, [50] 2 Timothy 4.1, [51] Matthew 25.31-33, [52] Psalm 96.13 [53] Revelation 20.15, [54] Mark 1.15, Psalm 25.7, Acts 20.21, [55] Revelation 7.16-17, 2 Corinthians 5.1, Psalm 145.1, John 10.28-30