John 14:  1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

There are so many comforting and encouraging words that Jesus spoke to those who loved Him.  And a disciple of Jesus Christ needs a lot of encouragement to press on and fight the good fight of faith in this sinful, trouble filled world.  Of course to become a disciple of Jesus Christ a person must first be “born again” by the Spirit of God to “enter” the family of God, then that person can learn to walk by faith as a son of God and learn to fight the good fight of faith … which takes a lot of encouragement.  The world, the flesh and the Devil want to discourage a person from coming to Christ and walking with Christ.  Satan tempts us to “go along” with the world and shipwreck our faith so we don’t look to God with joy and do the good works that God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:8-10).   Satan wants to keep the world in darkness, a slave to him … so that people aren’t saved from sin and they aren’t blessed by trusting in God’s promises (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Jesus knew and experienced the troubles of this world and He knew the troubles those who followed Him would face, that is why He spoke these words to His disciples “Let not your heart be troubled … I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2).   This place Jesus is preparing for his disciples is called the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2).   It is a place in Heaven … it is the believers real home!  And the promise of this city, who’s architect and builder is God, is what motivated Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Moses to faithfully follow God (Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 11:26) and it is what motivates the true born again believer’s to serve Jesus Christ on this earth until he is with Jesus in that new city.  This world is not our home but our home is in Heaven and our purpose for our life is hidden in Christ! (Colossians 3:3)

Oh what a joyful thought and blessed hope to be with Jesus in sweet Beulah land (Isaiah 62:4) and to come back in a resurrected body to reign and rule with Him upon the earth (Revelation 19:14)!  But be warned, those who seek this Heavenly Kingdom and seek to tell others about this Heavenly Kingdom will have troubles … and the number one trouble maker is the sin nature of the believer who is weary in this world and wary of this world.   The sin nature says you have served Christ long enough and it’s time to retire … your works of faith are no longer effective for bringing people to Christ … no one wants to hear you anymore so give up and shut up.  To these words of discouragement from the trouble maker Jesus says  “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).”  Therefore expect trouble in this world but don’t let your heart be troubled because God is using the trouble of this world to build the New Jerusalem city for those who love God and serve Him by faith (Romans 8:28).

God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

 

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. – 1 Timothy 6:12

 

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:14

Encouraging Passages:

 

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside still waters.  – Psalm 23:1-2

 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6

 

He who began a good work in me will complete it – Philippians 1:6

 

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven – Matthew 6:10

 

Be still and know that I am God – Psalm 46:10

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding – Proverbs 3:5-6

 

In Your presence is fullness of joy in Your right hand pleasures evermore – Psalm 16:11

 

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 

 

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
“With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”      – Psalm 91:14-16

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