John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
The Lord gave us some tremendous resources to get us through a hard world. He talks a lot about these in John 13-18. The first one we looked at was PEOPLE TO COUNT ON. Secondly, we looked at THE PROSPECT OF THINGS TO COME. Third, He has given us A PERSON WITH PRESENCE AND POWER.
As the infomercials say, “But wait… there’s more!” Jesus has given us
A PLACE TO BELONG.
Where do you abide? Home is where the heart is, right? Is your heart about America… all eagles, flags, and the Statue of Liberty? Do you love the state you are in? (That may just be a Texas thing. They still think there are people out there “messing with Texas“.) Maybe your thoughts about where you abide go to your town, or even your street, possibly down to your very house.
We may not feel we have a place we really belong. But Jesus gave us a place to abide. In fact, in John 15:1-11, you see the word over and over. Abide. Abide. Abide. Abide in Jesus, He abides in us. In fact, we can do nothing apart from abiding in Him! He said we are branches, attached to Him, the vine. The branches are dead off the vine, but alive and fruitful on the vine.
But what does He mean by abide? What does that look like? The answer is right in the passage:
John 15:10 - If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
Following Jesus Christ means you are attached to Him and obedient to Him. It’s evidence that you are attached when your desire is to honor and serve Him your heart your whole heart.
Have you ever felt like a fish out of water? I think I do…most of my life. At a banquet, at the preachers’ meeting, at the senior citizens’ home, around teenagers, weddings, receptions, grad parties - so often I just feel like, “What the heck? Why don’t I feel like I should be here? I don’t think I belong here! Do I belong here?”
Jesus gave us a place to belong. We are in Him, and He is in us. That’s home.
Even before Christ, even before Pentecost, Moses had an idea about this concept. In Psalm 90, verse 1, he says, “Lord you have been our dwelling place, in all generations.”
Do you know God as your dwelling place? Are you abiding in Christ? Stop and look at your life right now - what evidence is there that you belong to God? Are you at home in Him?
It sure is a comfort to have a place to call home.
p.s. - can't wait to finally be home with the Lord...in person...forever!