I Am With YouSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: Jesus Christ will come with you even to the end of the age. His presence will go with you and will give you rest. It will take away the unbelief from your heart. It will always lead, guide and protect you and make you a winner. Jesus Christ died on the cross and on the third day He rose alive; and He lives forever! After His resurrection, for 40 days He lived among His disciples to prove His resurrection. He showed Himself to the apostles. Yet, they could not believe that Christ had risen from the dead. That is why, "He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
In the Old Testament, we read of one of our forefathers, Jacob. When his beloved son Joseph was lost, he thought that he had died. One day, all of a sudden, his other sons brought him news from Egypt, "Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 45:26). On hearing this, Jacob's heart stood still, because he did not believe them. Only when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob revived and he said in ecstasy, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die" (Genesis 45:28).
The disciples of Jesus were like Jacob in a state of unbelief. Even when the resurrected Jesus showed Himself to some of them, they could not believe their eyes. So, He said to them.
"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence" (Luke 24:39-43). He then discoursed with them of several matters, recalling the words which He had spoken to them earlier (Luke 24:44).
Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, was noted for his doubt and distrust. When the disciples told him that they have seen the risen Christ, he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). "And after eight days, His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:26-28). In this manner, on so many occasions Jesus demonstrated His mighty living presence after His resurrection from the dead!
The Resurrected Christ is alive and He is the same today and forever. Even today, He proves His living presence in our midst by performing wonders and miracles. He fills our hearts with divine peace and joy. So, my friend, accept and proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross and He came to life on the third day and He is still alive and with His Heavenly Father preparing a place for us. Take away the unbelief from your heart. Believe that there is nothing impossible with our God. And ask whatever you want in the mighty name of Jesus, and then surely He will give you all that you want and make you a winner in everything.
Many years ago, a servant of God spoke to me over the telephone, "Brother, an astronaut has come here. I shall bring him to your house." I was very much surprised. Shortly, the American astronaut was at my door. He told me clearly all about his experiences on space and on earth. It all sounded so incredible! At last, before he left, he gave my son his autographed photo in which he looked so funny, wearing the space-suit and headgear in which he went to the moon. Only after seeing all those, I began to believe what he had said so far. That is human nature. But when we ask God to remove that doubting nature from us, He will do it without fail.
Dear friend, in our spiritual lives, we too are slow to put our trust in God. That is why our gracious Lord Jesus keeps proving to us in several ways, His living presence. He has promised, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I praise You for Your promise of being with me always even to the end of the age. I thank You for the assurance of new life You have given me on the cross. Help me also to remove the unbelief and doubts that often come in my mind like Thomas, and make me grow more stronger in Your faith. In Jesus' mighty name, I pray.
Amen. |