Jesus’ Powerful Promise – A Trouble-Free Life!

Jesus’ Powerful Promise – A Trouble-Free Life!

Over seven decades ago, when I was barely five years old, I was playing in the streets of my hometown in India when an elderly woman called me to direct me to come into my house, where my grandfather was taking his last breath before dying.

I can hardly forget the scene of the last moments with my grandfather, which is etched permanently into my memory. My grandfather was paralyzed for three years and was struggling to breathe at that moment. We all belonged to an Anglican Church in the southern states, and the pastor had visited my grandfather to give him communion.

The pastor did not speak much while my grandfather recited from John 14 and shared these words: “Let not your heart be troubled…I am going to a place my Jesus had prepared for me. I will eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. Most importantly, I will intercede for each of you, before you all will join me there.”

My godly grandmother, who was bottling up her emotions, exploded: “You are leaving us poppers. You have spent all our savings and money in street evangelism, and now we are without pennies.”

My grandfather responded immediately: “My foolish one, I HAVE LOANED ALL I HAD TO MY LORD. He will pay you back. When that moment arrives when you have reaped what I had sown, YOU WILL JOIN ME WITHOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE HARVEST OF WHAT MY LORD WILL GIVE YOU BACK!”

Then my grandfather prophesied over the three grandchildren surrounding his bed, the eldest of whom was I. After those prophecies, he fixed his eyes on my mother and prophesied that she would have another son a couple of years after his death and said a few things about his fourth grandson as well. Surely my mother delivered her fourth son a couple of years after my grandfather’s death. In all the prophecies, the authenticity of God’s inspiration through my grandfather in his last moments was tested and verified when his word about my grandmother not enjoying the benefits of what my grandfather invested in the kingdom of God came to pass.

This is how it happened – The ladies of my home, without much help, built 15 rental properties by spending all their retirement funds. My grandmother was the “night watchman,” keeping an eye on the lumber, doors, windows, etc. Just as soon as we finished those rental homes, when we were about to enjoy the benefit of collecting the rent on all of them, my grandmother died and went to heaven. It was a glorious death when my grandmother saw heaven for two full days and opened her eyes wide to greet Jesus, who came to take her home on a Sunday at 2 AM. While her death was glorious, my grandfather’s word still came to pass. Undoubtedly, all that he prayed for me has come to pass over the years!

My grandfather’s last words: “Let not your heart be troubled…I am going to a place my Jesus had prepared for me. I will eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. Most importantly, I will intercede for each of you, before you all will join me there.”

Jesus’ Promise to His Loved Ones!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1).

Jesus’ promise to a group of perplexed disciples in the Passover Chamber before going to the cross:

“Let not your heart be troubled!”

“You believe in God!”

“Believe also in Me!”

How do I believe those words of Jesus? I believe them because of a human example who lived the life for Jesus and left us with the same assurance – My grandfather!

Jesus came to show us the Father that we may believe in Him!

Jesus came to show us a perfect example of God’s Son, who, when He could empty Himself into the Heavenly Father’s sacred mission, could promise a trouble-free life for all His followers.

My grandfather did just that – He followed God fully and vigorously; he yielded his life to Jesus and became Jesus’ servant. He offered the words of comfort to all his family members in his dying moment: “Let not your heart be troubled!”

God alone offers comfort; Jesus came to show us God and emptied Himself of God as His Beloved Son for us to know God. Likewise, unless I become the example of knowing God, representing Him fully by following Jesus, I cannot offer the assurance of comfort to my loved ones! A devotee of God by following Jesus, my grandfather offered the assurance of comfort to all his family. I should be dedicated to God and follow Jesus fully to show God to my loved ones, thereby offering them the comfort and assurance they need from me!

I saw an illustration with two pictures in a message on LinkedIn. The first picture had a headline, “Everybody wants to go to heaven,” and showed at least 10-15 people standing in line with a person with a wheelchair assist as the last person. The second picture had a headline, “Not many want to be LIKE JESUS,” and showed no more than three people. It is not the many that want to go to heaven but the few that want to be like Jesus that offer comfort to others around them with their life that assures, “Let not your heart be troubled!”

Back to the original passage of Jesus who offers us comfort when we believe in God and in Him. Jesus offers a picture of heaven and the dwelling with our Heavenly Father. In fact, we, as believers, are given the privilege to enjoy an intimate family relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus, in John 14.

In the Mansion with Our Heavenly Father!

“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” (John 14:2-3).

My grandfather’s departing words seven decades ago: “Let not your heart be troubled…I am going to a place my Jesus had prepared for me. I will eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. Most importantly, I will intercede for each of you, before you all will join me there.”

Let me paraphrase what Jesus promised in John 14:2-3:

·        There are many MANSIONS in my Father’s Place (Heaven)!

·        I will prepare a PLACE for you!

·        I will come again to RECEIVE you!

·        You will be WITH ME in My Father’s MANSION!

The Greek word for "mansion" is “mon-ay,” which means “mansion, abode, dwelling place.”

The word “place” in Greek is “to-pos” means “place, room, quarter, an inhabited place, as a city, village, district.”

In one literal interpretation of the above passage, with its descriptions of the words “Mansions” and “Place,” we can say that Jesus will accompany a believer to the quarters assigned for them to share with their loved ones, especially with Jesus and the Heavenly Father!

Growing up in a dysfunctional family, I longed for a normal family, and I cried out to God for one! God answered that prayer! The compelling reason for me to believe in Jesus offering comfort is my grandfather’s example, whose life reflected the One he admired and followed most, Jesus, and he also mentioned the same passage he believed in. My grandmother followed that example and described heaven for two full days before her death!

Heaven is real!

Jesus came to represent heaven!

Jesus came to express His Heavenly Father to us!

Jesus prepares a special place for us to live with Him as family!

I have had human examples proving those words of Jesus to be true!

I have dedicated myself to be an example to prove those words of Jesus and offer comfort to my loved ones!

For as long as the dedicated followers of Jesus live on earth, as Jesus Himself surrendered His life to represent our Heavenly Father, heaven will gain its citizens and hell will lose them.

Are you suffering?

Are you miserable?

Do you not have peace?

Believe in God fully as the great ones believed in Him in Scripture!

Follow Jesus by being true to an example in your church that shows you Jesus!

Then your life will be a life of comfort!

Your life will be a life of peace!

Then you too will provide comfort and healing to your family and your surroundings!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God and believe also in (Jesus)!”

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, I love You and adore You. I thank You for Your mercy and grace in saving me from the depravity of sins and iniquities by the blood of Your Obedient Son Jesus, who went to the cross for me. Help me to be transformed in the image of Your Beloved Son, Jesus, so that I will represent You to my family and friends and offer them comfort. In Your Precious Holy Name, Amen! Amen!!”

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John Jeyaseelan

http://www.globalprayercenter.net