John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.” John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
The apostle Peter had just denied knowing Jesus three times in John chapter 13. Now in chapter 14 the Lord comforts Peter, letting Him know that the Lord Himself is preparing a place for every believer up in Heaven. This is so beautiful. In God's house there are many mansions. I love when Jesus says, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” The blessed Lord said what He meant, and He meant what He said. You can count on Jesus!!! That is exactly what it means in Romans 10:11, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” If you place your full trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will never be disappointed. You won't ever regret receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (John 1:12-13).
Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” That is one reason I know that the story in Luke 16:19-32 is a true story, because if it wasn't Jesus is a deceiver. Jesus didn't say it was a parable, so I'm going to take it as factual. Jesus used proper nouns for names, which He never did when He told parables. Jesus said that Hell has fire. Luke 16:23, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” It would be very wrong (as Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses errantly do), to say that Jesus was only speaking symbolically, or to call this a parable. If the Bible doesn't call something fiction, than don't you dare call it untrue. Luke 16:19-32 about the rich man and Lazarus is a factual true story. Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.”
Jesus told Peter not to let his heart be troubled. Is your heart troubled dear friend? John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. 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.” The way to stop being troubled is to BELIEVE in Jesus. Is He your Savior? Trust Him now to forgive your sins and He will. Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay your debt of sin. Believe that He was buried. And believe that three days later Christ bodily resurrected from the dead for your justification. Jesus raised up to justify our faith in Him, that is was not in vain. If your name is written in Heaven dear reader, then you have very much to rejoice about continually, night and day.
John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Repeatedly in the Bible we find the Lord encouraging us not to be troubled. The Lord doesn't want us to worry and fret. In Philippians 4:6 we are exhorted to “Be careful for nothing,” that is, don't allow anxiety and stress to rule your life. Bring your cares and troubles to God in prayer, and leave your burden there! Then claim the perfect peace of God, which passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
The Bible says God cares about you (1st Peter 5:7). If you are like me, and you are, you sometimes begin to doubt if God really cares. He does friend, I assure you! I know God cares because the Bible says that He cares!!! That is walking by faith. If we walk by sight, we might think that God doesn't care, when things are not going well. But we are commanded to walk BY FAITH, trusting the promises of God in the Scriptures. Let not your heart be troubled. That is what Jesus said. Is your heart troubled Oh believer? Get into the Word of God. I am amazed how many Christians are vaguely familiar with the Bible. They have never slept clutching their King James Bible next to their heart. They have never gone to the Scriptures when everything in their life fell apart. You need to do that friend! You need to get into your King James Bible during the dark times, when all hope seems gone, and claim God's promises! THAT IS LIVING BY FAITH!!!
I am not an eloquent writer, but God knows that I have a willing heart to be used of God. The Lord uses me because I am willing to be used. Pastor Jack Hyles used to say concerning Samson, that even though Samson was a crooked stick, God will still make use of a crooked stick if it is yielded to Him. I am grateful to be fit for the Master's use! Isaiah 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” What a wonderful Savior!
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