Finding Comfort in Jesus Christ

Sometimes we may wonder if we are making any difference in this world and sometimes we wonder if we are making any impact for our Lord Jesus Christ in the lives of those around us.  I am speaking for myself mostly.  There are times I wonder if I am being a good witness for the Lord.  Then I realize that it is not about me at all.  It is about the Lord shinning through you and I through His Holy Spirit as I walk with Him.  The Lord can still use us even we make mistakes and act a little off at times.

Today I went to my Aunt Joyce's graveside service in Presque Isle.  Joyce was my mother's sister-in-law.  She was married to my mother's brother Roy.  I had the opportunity to pray over and for Joyce just over a month ago.  That was the last time we got to see her alive.  Today as the family, neighbors, and friends gathered to pay our respects and remember Aunt Joyce he son, Steven, shook my hand and he thanked me for praying for his mother that day.  He said it meant a lot.  Then after the service was over we went to his place for food.  He told me again how appreciative he was and how glad Joyce was that I took the time to hold her hand and pray for her.  It moved me in my heart.

The Lord used me in that moment to make an impact for Him.  I am not sure what the full impact was or will be, but the Lord knows.  I am just His servant trying to be faithful and obedient.  I say I try because sometimes I don't feel like I am always paying attention to the opportunities that the Lord puts in my path.  I want to do the Lord's will, but sometimes I fail and stumble.

Thankfully, the Lord Jesus can still us people like you and I who aren't perfect to draw other people who aren't perfect either to Himself in a personal relationship.  I really hope that my praying for Joyce made an eternal impact on her and her family.  I know there was a seed planted that day and I pray that something good will grow from it.

I would ask that you would pray for her family, friends, neighbors, and my mom.  Joyce and my mom used to call one other on the phone ever week since my uncle Roy passed away in 2007.

It is always hard to say goodbye to someone that we have known for a long time and sometimes we may not have known them very long at all.  Our hearts will feel troubled and we will feel deep sorrow.  For the believer in Jesus Christ there is great hope in the midst of our sorrow.

The unbeliever doesn't have this hope.  Those who have not trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be eternally separated from God and placed into a literal hell because they had to pay the penalty for their sins on their own.  Sin has to be paid for in order for God to remain Holy, Righteous, and Just in His Judgments.

God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins by sending Him to die on a Cross.  Jesus paid it all.  He bore our sins upon Himself so we wouldn't have to.  We must receive His forgiveness by going to Him in humility confessing our sins and our inability to save ourselves.  We must receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in order to be saved.

The service I attended was a Catholic service.  I didn't agree with everything the priest said, but I did hear snippets of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which was an answer to my prayers.  I asked the Lord to show Himself there and that His Holy Spirit would point people to Jesus and He did if someone was paying attention.

The Lord Jesus will comfort us in our times of loss and in our times of deep sorrow.  Just before Jesus was crucified He told His disciples to not allow their hearts to be troubled.  He told them to trust in God and trust in Him (Jesus) also.  We can read of that account in John 14:1-6 which says,

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God;

trust also in me.  

In my Father's house are many rooms;

if it were not so, I would have told you.

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.

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going,

so how can we know the way?

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  

No one comes to the Father except through me."

This was the passage of scripture that was used at the service.  It holds a great promise and truth for those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  We need to come to Jesus by trust in His grace through faith in His finished work on the Cross.

Not everyone will go to Heaven and not everyone will be saved.  Only those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will be saved.  We can't make a decision for anyone else.  It is important that each of knows where we stand with the Lord Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.  There is only one way in order to have our sins forgiven and there is only one way into Heaven when we leave this earth and that my friends is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We need to come to Jesus by faith.

Lord,
Thank You for Your love and mercy.
I pray that the truth of the Gospel will be proclaimed in Aroostook County and throughout this world.
Help us believers to stand upon the truth of Your Holy Word.
Help us to correct people who are in error with gentleness and love.
Lead us and guide our steps through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.