Being reassured of God’s presence with us…
While I have been studying these past few days for teaching at my church this coming weekend, I have been struck with the closing statement with the Gospel of Matthew, “And, behold, I am with you always, to end of the age.” Matthew begins his Gospel telling of the coming Christ who will be “God with us,” and he has now ended it the same way. Except these are the words of Jesus to his disciples after giving them their mission of daily searching out others in order to make disciples. So why? Why does he need to go through this again? He already promised them the Helper in the Upper Room. Is there a need to do so again? Outside of the obvious yes, I decided to review the history of the Apostles post Jesus. To be clear, things do not end well for most of them. For example, James the Younger was stoned then had his brains bashed out with a club at the age of 90.
Could it be that Jesus knew exactly what they were getting themselves into? He knew the endings were not pretty, and even promises it to them in Matthew 5:12. It would seem that we are not only saved unto a full life, but possibly a painful life if the gospel is truly permeating us at every point. Jesus didn’t die for our comforts or vacations. He didn’t die for us to simply have a good life washed free from troubles. However, he promises to sustain us in the troubles and carry us through the storms that are inevitable because of a pursuit of the gospel. He promises his presence because he knows that when we live committed to the gospel and its spreading throughout our neighborhoods and communities even to the rest of the world that bad things will happen.
It worries me for those who seek to exchange this full life that is to be marked with pain for the ease of comfort and religion on the sleeve. I pray that we would be grounded on the gospel of Christ, assured by the promise that he is with us, and daily making disciples for the spread of the kingdom for it is at hand and is coming. For my friends in Spokane, Pullman, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Asia, and other parts of the world, walk in the assurance that Jesus is with us to the end of this age! COntinue to work for the kingdom.
Grace and Peace
