“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33
Last week we paused to remember the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. This week, a self-proclaimed soldier of Islam stabbed 9 people in a Minnesota mall, and other would-be terrorists detonated bombs in New York City.
Yet Christ says, “be of good cheer.”
Today, a friend of mine attended the wake of an 18 month year-old girl who died in a freak accident.
Yet Christ says, “be of good cheer.”
Tomorrow, another friend of mine will take her 70-something mother for her first chemo treatment.
Yet Christ says, “be of good cheer.”
Being of good cheer is easy when my tribulations are nothing more than a stubbed toe. But when financial pressure, poor health, or devastating offenses come my way, being of good cheer gives way to anger.
Anger because whatever has befallen me seems unfair, unjust.
Anger because I am a good Christian who plays by the rules, so I feel that I should be spared.
And anger because, somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind, I think I know better than God does.
(Oh my! – Ugly heart alert)
Be of good cheer.
Be of good cheer…
Be of good cheer…
I don’t want to be of good cheer!
I want to be mad.
I want to thrash around and have a tantrum until I get my way.
And so for a moment, I get my blankie and wallow in self-righteous arrogance…
But then I shake myself, reach for my Bible, and once again recite aloud the last few chapters of Job which always smacks me back to reality and reminds me of the worm that I am, and how truly lucky I am that the Creator of the Universe even knows that I exist.
Job-Smacking Reality
Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instructhim? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Deck thyself nowwithmajesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
–Job 40: 1-10
I CAN be of good cheer… and so can you. Not because our circumstances are great, but because Christ really has overcome the world. He shed His blood, and conquered death, hell, and the grave for us. He alone is in charge, and He alone knows what is best for my life, and yours.
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. -Isaiah 10:15
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use? -Romans 9:20-21