"Take Heart!"

“Take Heart!”

 

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”       John 16:33

 

Jesus was preparing His disciples for what would lie ahead for them, when He was gone.  It was a difficult thing for them to BELIEVE, that He was going to leave them.  Their FAITH was neither COMPLETE nor STRONG.  “These things,” which Jesus told them was to bring them PEACE.

 

TRUE BELIEVERS live a dual existence.  They live, “in Christ” and “in the world.”  Living in Christ can and SHOULD bring PEACE to their heart.  But living in the world, brings about HOSTILE PRESSURES for the TRUE BELIEVER of the Lord Jesus Christ.  At the time of Jesus death, and even today, the world system was/is an enemy of God, His laws, and His people. 

 

But Jesus OVERCAME the world.  He RUINED Satan’s plans, by NOT staying in the grave, but RISING FROM THE GRAVE, and FINISHING His mission of SALVATION for mankind.  He brought FREEDOM to those who were BOUND to their sins.  He became the VICTOR over DEATH and the GRAVE. 

 

So Jesus told His disciples to; “TAKE HEART!”  Meaning that they SHOULD BE COURAGEOUS!  Because He had WON, and because He had WON, they could be WINNERS also.  REMEMBER, He has OVERCOME the WORLD.  

 

This message is applicable to ALL TRUE BELIEVERS, and it is somewhat of a WARNING for those who have NOT given their HEART and LIFE to God, but are LIVING for the Devil instead.  If you are in this category, you are on the LOSING TEAM, because you are NOT in Christ, you are LIVING for the world.  Your DESTINATION is an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  Jesus can be your WAY of escaping Hell, if you will TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  Then you MUST BELIEVE that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  And you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and “TAKE HEART!” Because YOU too have become a VICTOR over DEATH and the GRAVE.   Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!