Looking to Jesus Only
I am absolutely certain a political party is not going to save anyone. A president, whoever he may be is not our savior. As I have been pondering all that is going on in our nation, I have not been sure what to think. Things have not transpired like I thought they would. There are many voices saying many things. Many prophets have been encouraging in what they perceive will happen, and yet, to date, we do not see the manifestation of their prophetic words. The secular media is so full of deceit and pushing their own agenda, you cannot depend on them for any direction. Whatever is happening in the political scene is also disconcerting. Both parties are full of those who, it seems, care only about themselves and their own agenda. They say different things publicly and yet, behind closed doors, they are pretty much the same. Largely, they have a vision for this country that is based on godlessness. There is so much corruption. In the midst of all of the questioning and confusion, we know and hold on to the knowledge that in Jesus alone, can we put our hope. The true battle being fought in America is not a political battle, but, a spiritual one. Since the ideals and moral standards of the church are in opposition to many of the politician's ideals and moral standards, one of their goals is to close down the church. Many national leaders want God out of the USA. The enemy has gotten a big foothold in our country.
I believe the church, by it's apathy and complacency has allowed this to happen. We have not encouraged members to become involved in governmental leadership, we have not battled against the changing laws regarding abortion, marriage, or gender identification. I believe we are on the verge of total anarchy taking over this nation. Based on what is happening now, I would not be surprised to see civil war. Over the years, as we have looked at and studied scripture, we have been aware that these times were coming and yet, we didn't expect it to happen so suddenly. I do not have all of the right answers or solutions in how to turn these things around, however, I do know Who does! I believe God is about to intervene in a major way!
As I was thinking on these things a few nights ago. I cried out to the Lord and said, "I need to see You, Jesus! In the midst of everything else, I need to see You and only You." The Lord spoke very clearly to me. He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Then He spoke, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me." He spoke John 14 verse 6, then verse 1 to me to remind me that all we need is Jesus. I mediated on John 14:1 and want to share with you what He was showing me.
John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." The word "heart" (kardia) is the physical organ of our body, the center of physical life, the seat of one's personal life (both physical and spiritual), the center of one's personality, the seat of one's entire mental and moral activity, containing both rational and emotional elements. It is the seat of feelings, desires, joy, pain and love. It is also the center for thought, understanding and will. The human heart is the dwelling place of the Lord in the one who believes and obeys.
The word "troubled" (tarasso) means unsettled, stirred up, agitated. Its primary use in the New Testament is metaphorical. It denotes mental agitation from fear or perplexity (Matthew 14:26); and upheaval in the spirit as seen in John 11:33.
Most of our anguish comes from fear and worry. It is so easy to slip into fear and worry when all we hear is negative, i.e. pandemic, shut downs, deaths, riots, business closings, trafficking, racism, corruption - over and over and over again. But, hallelujah, the Lord distinctly spoke to me, "Do not let your heart (your thoughts, feelings, or emotions) be troubled (agitated, stirred up)! Do not let your mind and thoughts be consumed with fear. "I am the way, the truth and the life!
One of the most frequently used exhortation in the Word of God is, "Fear not". This phrase is used 365 times in the scripture!
Isaiah 26:3 tells us, "You (God) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You".
Jesus exhorted us in John 16:33 when He said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Tribulation means pressure, oppression, stress, anguish, tribulation, distress. The word is used of crushing olives or grapes in a press.
Jesus is our burden bearer. Look at what Matthew 11:28-30 says, " Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Thank the Lord for this Word.
Going back to John 14:6 Jesus said to Thomas, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Let's look at what it means for Him to say, "I Am, The Way, The Truth, and The Life.
I Am : Exodus 3:14, " And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'
John 8: 58, Jesus, speaking to the Jews who believed on him said of Himself, "I am" Quite plainly here, Jesus was saying that He is God, One with the Father.
The Way: As the Way, He is the only way to the Father. Romans 5:1 and 2, " Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Psalm 25:4,5 and 10, " Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. ... 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."
Psalm 23: 3, "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake."
As the Way, He guides us into all the correct paths of life!
The Truth: Jesus is the Truth and the only source of truth that we can trust. Truth is the opposite of fiction, feigned, or false. Truth denotes reality or fact. Webster defines truth as that which is in accordance with fact; that which agrees with reality. In today's world, truth is hard to discern, apart from the Spirit of the Lord, but God's Word revealed by His Spirit is absolute truth. Ephesians 4:20 and 21, "But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:"
Then, we have in John 1:17," For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Life: It is Jesus who gives us life for He is the life. 1 John 5:12 and 20, "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ... 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ." The word "life" in these scriptures is zoe . Zoe refers to the principle of life. In the New Testament, zoe, meaning life, real and genuine, denotes not only physical life, but spiritual life, which one can possess only through faith in Jesus Christ. Eternal life refers not only to the duration of life, but also to the quality of life (as one in a more perfect body). It is a present life of grace and a future life of glory. Jesus came to give us abundant life, as seen here in John 10:10, " The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
We are exhorted to look to Jesus and Jesus only. Hebrews 12: 2, "looking unto Jesus, the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The word "looking" in this verse signifies undivided attention, looking away from all distractions in order to fix one's gaze on one object. In this verse, we could take it to mean, " having eyes for no one but Jesus."
Our enemy, satan, would like to distract us from the One who is the Way, the Truth and, the Life. Do not let him do it! Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and Him only!
I am praying that you would receive revelation or reminders of God's goodness from this study and that you would be encouraged, so that whatever is ahead, you will keep your focus on the One who gives us peace in every situation.