Based on John 16:16-24 (King James Version)
“‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.’ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.’ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
I remember when I was a boy in school that there were certain days when we would finish our work early and not have much to do. So, the only option I had was to wait until the bell would ring so I could leave, because we were not allowed to leave early. I remember putting my head down on the desk where I would sit, and I would fix my eyes on the clock on the wall. The problem that I had was that the more I looked at the clock with the hope that time would pass by faster, it seemed like time would stretch and almost stand still. I felt like the hands on the clock that would show the hours, minutes, and seconds were going slower and slower. The day seemed like it would never end. It felt a bit like torture. Do you feel your life is like that sometimes, especially when you are going through a tough moment, and that not only time seems to be going by slower, but also, like everything is getting worse? Have you ever felt like you are walking slowly down a dark tunnel that seems like it’s getting darker and darker, and that there is no end in sight, and that you cannot even see a glimmer of hope at a far distance?
This life can be very difficult for many of us, in one way or another. The Lord never told us that everything would be great here, and that we would be happy and vibrant, and that we would be able to fulfill all of our dreams and desires while here. This was never written in the Bible, as we were able to read today, just a short moment ago. On the contrary, the Lord warned us that we would have sadness and even affliction, and not only that, but also, that we would have to go through trials and tribulations. I know that does not sound pleasant, but at the same time, it is necessary to understand what is happening, and that you are not the only one that is going through it. You are not alone in this. The truth is that this will be difficult, but not because the Lord necessarily desires that, but because of the sin that dwells in this place and even within our lives. That’s why the Lord hates sin, because it ruins everything. So then, if you want to blame something for the pain and sadness, put blame where it should go; on sin.
But, here comes better things, the ones that we always need to bear in mind and in our heart, especially when we are going through tough times, because this life only lasts but a moment when you compare it to eternity. When we surrender our lives to the Lord, and we abide in His faith, there are great and wonderful promises that are waiting for those that love the Lord, as it is written: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’” Revelation 21:1-7. This is the joy that should keep all Christian looking forward, looking towards the goal.
So then, for those of you that are not doing so well right now, remember that we have a living and eternal hope in the Lord. The disciple of the Lord always has the joy of the hope that all of this will pass someday, and that not only better days are coming, but rather, an indescribable eternity with everything that only the Lord can offer. At the same time, for those of you that may not be going through difficult times, remember also that everything here is passing, just like our lives. As it is written: “because, ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’” 1 Peter 1:24. So then, whether we are doing well, or doing so-so, or not doing so well, the clock of our lives is running quite fast. The time of the end of our flesh will come to pass for each of us. This is an unavoidable reality. That’s why the Word gives us this counsel: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’: While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down; when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim; when the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; when one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘All is vanity.’… …Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, 13-14.
So then, what are you doing with your life while here on earth? Lord bless! John