Blessed Assurance in a Broken World (Jn. 14, Rom. 8)

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My precious cousin's father passed away last night. I don't have (nor do I need) all the details, but he had been hospitalized or in a hospice center for several weeks, mostly separated from those he loved following complications from a surgery. When my mom passed the news to me last night, she made the comment that somehow it seemed so sad not to go to a funeral. The thought seems absurd on the surface, but even though a paradox exists, the reality of the situation is that the normal process of grieving and saying goodbye has been altered by the weird stasis of the COVID-19 quarantine.

However, Jesus sees not only my cousin's father and his family, but all the precious saints currently passing from this world isolated from their loved ones. This world is broken, riddled by sin and death, but Jesus has gone to prepare a place for his own. 

Jesus told his disciples this to comfort them as he spoke of His leaving:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:1-4)

Christians have an assurance that their hope has not been misplaced. In reading Romans 8 this morning, I was reminded of that hope. The first section of the chapter is titled in my Bible “Deliverance from Bondage”—and that’s what this world really is for the believer. Everything here is groaning in anticipation of heaven: creation groans and suffers  while waiting (v. 19-22), we groan waiting eagerly for the redemption of our bodies (v. 23), the Spirit groans for us when we struggle to pray as we should (v. 26), and Christ, who groaned for us in completing his work on the cross, now intercedes for us at the right hand of God (v. 34).

In hope we are saved and wait eagerly (v. 24-25), in the confidence of the Spirit and Christ interceding for us we know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him] are are called according to His purpose” (and “if He is for us, who is against us?” —v. 28-31). 

Paul’s words following this offer so much hope for Christians, regardless of what they are going through: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?” (v. 35). The answer, as we all know, is that nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. No matter how hard it feels at the time.

My cousin’s family faithfully walks with Christ; I know this. I’ve seen my dad’s quiet grief as he has mourned not being able to see his friend or do much to help physically, and although I haven’t seen my extended family often in the last 25 years, I love them and grieve for them too. I remember Charles’ quiet way, his strength and thoughtfulness, his gentleness and willingness to serve others. I know Sharon is heartbroken yet comforted in knowing that Charles is with Jesus. She will grieve, but she wouldn’t wish him back, and she won’t grieve like the world would because she has hope, as hard as this seems right now. Lisa, my cousin, though mourning the loss of her father, will continue to radiate her inner joy and be patient with those around her, doing things to help her brother take care of her mom and meet her needs as well as all those missing Charles and the opportunity to say goodbye in these strange times because she (following in her parents’ path) will persevere with proven character, because she has a hope that doesn’t disappoint, because she has the love of God in her hearts because Christ died for her. 

With deliverance from bondage comes victory in Christ.

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