Daddy’s Duty — Adam’s Angle

Sometimes death strikes us suddenly, like a plank of wood in the freeway that makes our car spin out of control. Other times it comes slowly, like a lazy hourglass while we watch a loved one, full of tubes and wires, fading away. But whether death comes at our families unexpectedly or with a sluggish inevitability, it is something that we all will face.

And when it comes, where do you find peace?

For those apart from God, there is no peace — no true peace with a leg to stand on.

But for those who belong to God, who are a part of His family, there is rock solid peace in the face of death. Children of God find peace in the face of death by knowing that it’s Daddy’s duty —their heavenly Father’s responsibility — to bring them safely home.

We Regret to Inform You. . .

Jesus had some bad news to share with His disciples in the upper room: He was going away.

What made things worse for the disciples was the manner that Jesus was going to make His exit: one of their own was about to betray Him, the disciples would abandon him and the “powers” that be would butcher him in less than 24 hours. The news probably hit Jesus’ friends like a ton of bricks.

But in the midst of this darkest hour Jesus says something that seems (to put it nicely) totally wacko, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).

“Do not let your hearts be troubled?” Are you kidding? Jesus’ friends might have been thinking that He had gone off the deep end. How on earth could he tell them to relax in the face of that kind of life-changing news?

But Jesus wasn’t crazy. He just knew the solid reason why they could have peace: God was in the picture, “Trust in God; trust also in Me” (John 14:1).

Daddy Makes the Difference

Jesus understands loyalty. That’s our basis for having peace as we face the worst of the worst: we’re not on our own — God is going to take care of things.

What is He going to take care of for us? He’s going to prepare a place for us to be with Him: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” See fancy houses down here? Don’t get distracted. What could compare with being a part of God’s household forever?

But how do you know that, after death, you’re going to find your way to God’s fancy mansion? I mean, it’s not like you can MapQuest “heaven” and get step-by-step directions. Well, those who belong to God don’t just get a place, but they also get an escort: “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” (John 14:3).

In the here and now we fret about retirement and about not being able to afford a home. We worry about a lot because we’re depending on our own cleverness to pull us through. But to get ready for eternity we don’t have to worry about qualifying for loans or about buying the world’s best GPS to give us directions. We just need to depend on God instead of ourselves.

It’s like a two year old trying to be independent. If you kick that child out of your home, he’s not going to make it. He won’t know where to get food, where to sleep, how to get by. But if you put that same child in a loving home with good parents, he’ll be one happy kid. He won’t worry about his next meal or about how the stock market is doing — those are mom and dad’s responsibilities. All he needs to do is to be part of the family and depend on them.

But, I Like MapQuest. . .

Jesus gave assurance to his disciples in the face of the impending tragedy: “You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:4). But Thomas (bless his soul) still wasn’t at peace. He had a question: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:4).

Jesus made it crystal clear:“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). In other words, depend on Me, not on yourselves. Your ability to make it through this trial doesn’t depend on your cleverness. It depends on your relationship to Him.

Keep in mind that Jesus wasn’t on a hillside, talking to the masses. He was in the upper room, speaking with His own. Others were on the outside: Judas was betraying him, a mob was gathering to arrest him, soldiers were getting ready to crucify Him. Not everyone is a part of God’s family.

What about you? Are you part of the family? If not, become part of the family. Put your trust in Jesus, and not in yourself and your own ability to work your way to heaven. Trust that when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead He did what you couldn’t do. He paid the penalty for every bad thing you ever did and could ever do.

And then, like that two-year-old child under the care of good parents, do not let your heart be troubled — even in the face of death. When you’re a part of the family you’re not alone. It’s your heavenly Father’s responsibility to bring you safely home.

— Adam Pivec
9/28/08