Jesus was not rebuking the disciples in this passage. Their faith
was real, but it was disordered and unfocused, and was not at work in
the important realities of life. The disciples were scattered to their
own concerns and they had interests apart from Jesus Christ. After we
have the perfect relationship with God, through the sanctifying work of
the Holy Spirit, our faith must be exercised in the realities of
everyday life. We will be scattered, not into service but into the
emptiness of our lives where we will see ruin and barrenness, to know
what internal death to God’s blessings means. Are we prepared for this?
It is certainly not of our own choosing, but God engineers our
circumstances to take us there. Until we have been through that
experience, our faith is sustained only by feelings and by blessings.
But once we get there, no matter where God may place us or what inner
emptiness we experience, we can praise God that all is well. That is
what is meant by faith being exercised in the realities of life.
“. . . you . . . will leave Me alone.” Have we been scattered and
have we left Jesus alone by not seeing His providential care for us? Do
we not see God at work in our circumstances? Dark times are allowed and
come to us through the sovereignty of God. Are we prepared to let God do
what He wants with us? Are we prepared to be separated from the
outward, evident blessings of God? Until Jesus Christ is truly our Lord,
we each have goals of our own which we serve. Our faith is real, but it
is not yet permanent. And God is never in a hurry. If we are willing to
wait, we will see God pointing out that we have been interested only in
His blessings, instead of in God Himself. The sense of God’s blessings
is fundamental
“. . . be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Unyielding spiritual fortitude is what we need.
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