“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
John 16:22
What a blessing it is to have this kind of wonderful assurance in our lives. One of the most beautiful things about the gospel is that it doesn’t try to tell you that everything in life will be good or fair or happy, in fact it often says the opposite, but despite that, we have the promise of an eternal life to come that will make all of the sorrow we face on earth pale in comparison to the joy we have in Heaven.
Christ is speaking to his disciples in this scripture, telling them about how He will be going away soon, and that He will no longer be on the Earth with them. Of course, the disciples don’t understand what is about to happen, but nonetheless Jesus gives them the reassurance that they will soon need. He says that though he will go away and they will have sorrow, their suffering will turn to joy. Not only that, but the joy that is coming will be eternal, and nothing will be able to take it away. He, of course, is talking about Heaven.
We know from the gospels that everyone who believes in the name of Jesus and confesses him through baptism will have eternal life with God. What an amazing message of hope to believers. No matter how bad things get in this world, no matter how painful or sorrowful life gets, there is hope in Jesus. No matter what difficulty you’re facing, no matter what sin has enslaved you, there is hope in Jesus.
He suffered the ultimate death so that we could experience fullness of life. While we were still sinners, he died for us. Praise be to God for the mercy and love given to us through Jesus.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank you for the beautiful assurance of Heaven. Thank you for the hope that outshines any darkness in this world. Help me to leave behind my life of sin to walk with Jesus in new life. Forgive me, Lord, and when this life is over, bring me home to you.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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