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TRUST IN JESUS
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word…” These sweet words are the beginning of an old song we have all sung many times. There is great comfort in these words if we listen with our hearts. They are indeed scriptural words, as we find these thoughts throughout both Old and New Testaments. Psalms and Proverbs are replete with such messages. We see Paul as he approaches the end of his earthly journey writing with great confidence about the “crown which the righteous judge shall give me in that day”. There are many other passages we could turn to for confirmation of the sweetness of trusting in Jesus.
Lazarus and the rich man lived under the Old Law, but it demonstrates both the goodness and the severity of God:
Goodness toward Lazarus, severity toward the rich man. We should all trust in Jesus to the extent that we are often in communication with Him (through prayer). Learning to trust is not quickly accomplished. We know that from our own lives: I don’t trust a big dog I’ve just met even if his owners assure me he is gentle! We date for an extended period of time to decide if we can trust our date not to “hurt” us, or break our hearts. We spend time with them, observe them, and see how they react is differing circumstances toward us. In short, we determine if we can trust them!
In I Tim. 4:15-16 Paul told young Timothy “Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” That is the method through which we develop this trust. It takes work to study and properly understand a subject in school, and it takes work and study to understand God’s word. There is no shortcut that replaces diligence. Trusting in God is so sweet. He doesn’t change. He is always accessible. His love is without limit. His care for us is without bounds. It is indeed sweet to trust in Jesus. Recall when Peter walked (shortly) on the water to meet Jesus. When his confidence (faith) failed, Jesus reached out a hand and saved him. When a storm threatened to sink the boat His disciples were in, Jesus calmed the wind and waves and all were safe. When we reach out spiritually today, Jesus is still there to hold our hands and protect us.
If God be for us, who can stand against us? Indeed. God created this world and gave mankind dominion over it and all that is in it. Limitless life was initially given, but Eve decided to “trust” in the snake (Satan). As a result, Eden was lost forever. The Israelites trusted in God and were brought out of Egypt, given Canaan, and all their enemies defeated by God, as long as they trusted in Him. Many other great things were done for them as long as they trusted in God. (See Exodus, Joshua, Judges.) Lazarus trusted, the rich man trusted in his riches; Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom, the rich man was in ‘torment’. We can trust Jesus today. In Matt. 11 Jesus said “come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest…” Jesus never once failed to keep His promises. We can trust Him for that “rest” He promised. “If God be for us, who can stand against us?” (Rom. 8:31). That is truly a comforting thought. Can’t you just feel the warmth as you wrap yourself in that blanket of love and protection?
The Bereans of old were determined to trust in God. “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” in Acts 17:11. They wanted to be sure they remained in a good relationship with God, and worked daily to be sure they did. Surely they trusted in Him. If the Bereans were considered ‘noble’ for searching the scriptures daily, should we not also do the same today? Certainly we all want to be in a saved relationship with Jesus, so we must want to be assured of that relationship in order to receive the benefits as Paul recounts.
I trust Jesus. John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Then in verses 15 & 16 He promised “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever.” His requirement of me is to “keep His commandments”. That isn’t too much to ask of me. Especially in light of what He has already done for me. Look around. We have wonderful places to live, jobs to provide our needs, a loving congregation with wise shepherds to protect us. We have His blood to wash away our sins. We have His promise of a place in heaven. We have His ever-watching over us. Yes, I do trust Jesus!
Do you remember the comfort you received when as a child your parents would come into your room at night when you had a bad dream or heard a scary noise? Remember when you had to go to school that first time and Mom walked with you and watched you go inside; and then was waiting when you came out at the end of the day? How about the time you got lost and Dad found you? Or when that mean dog was chasing you and Dad chased it away? Jesus faced the Devil himself for us. Jesus died on that cross in our stead. He promised never to leave us. We can trust Him about everything.
I remember listening to my grandfather talk about crossing Jordan. On the other side was Jesus waiting for him. I could hear the emotion and confidence in his voice. He trusted that Jesus would meet him there and give him that home without reservation. I really loved my grandfather. He loved me, too. But he absolutely loved and trusted Jesus. It was clear in his words, his patience, and his manner of life. No challenge ever worried him. It only resulted in prayer and usually a song or two, sung mostly to him. Tis so sweet, I won’t have to cross Jordon alone, and I come to the garden alone were some of his favorites. Personal testimony is only someone else’s memories, not scriptural proof as in our Lord’s Gospel. Be a Berean, or a young Timothy or a Philemon and prove to yourself you CAN trust in Jesus. It is so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Larry Lauderdale
