Once again we stand on the threshold of a New Year. What lies ahead for you? Happiness? Sorrow? Prosperity? Poverty? Health? Sickness? Perhaps God will call you home in this next year, or take one of your loved ones.
But beloved, in the midst of the uncertainty and fears of the future, there couldn’t be any greater words of comfort to the Christian than these words from Jesus Christ our Savior; “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Here’s our strength, our joy and our peace in this life.
Notice first that Jesus said, “I am with you.” Our Lord didn’t assign this task to an angel, or to a man, but He Himself would be with His people. Jesus earlier told His disciples, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you… He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him” (John 14:18, 21).
Oh it’s true, He’s not with us physically. But the Holy Spirit has come to dwell with God’s people, and He is the One who makes Christ known in the hearts and minds of true believers. The Apostle Paul referred to Him as “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9). He helps us to see Christ in His Word and His sacraments. He gives us a felt sense of Christ’s Presence “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). This promise that Jesus Himself would be with us is without equal and should quiet our hearts in any circumstance in this world.
Look further and see that Jesus would be with us “always”. What dearly loved parent, husband, wife, or friend could ever make this promise? Sooner or later they’re taken from us and even while they are with us in this life, they can not be everywhere. And yet Jesus said, “I am with you always”. This means that Christ is with you anywhere on this planet, or the universe. David wrote, “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10).
Christ is with His people every minute of every day to lead and guide, to pardon and forgive. He is with us to sanctify and strengthen, to comfort and protect. Christ is with us when we’re joyful, when we’re in sorrow, when we’re healthy, when we’re sick, when we’re prosperous, when we’re poor, when we’re on our death-beds. When you feel most alone, Christ is with you believer, always!
Finally, let us rejoice that Jesus added, “even to the end of the age”. Jesus Christ is not constrained by time; He brought it into existence! It doesn’t matter if this world continues for another year, a millennium, or 10,000 millenniums, Jesus will be with His people “even to the end of the age”. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
The unbelieving world can only look into the future and hope for the best. They depend solely upon their wits and good fortune. But believers can confidently say, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). They know that even after this age “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) because “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). What a blessing that Christ has been and ever shall be with His people to the end of the age
Take heart in this New Year Christian. You can claim Christ’s promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Put off worries, fears and uncertainties, Jesus is ever with you. The hymn writer put it this way;
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
But beloved, in the midst of the uncertainty and fears of the future, there couldn’t be any greater words of comfort to the Christian than these words from Jesus Christ our Savior; “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Here’s our strength, our joy and our peace in this life.
Notice first that Jesus said, “I am with you.” Our Lord didn’t assign this task to an angel, or to a man, but He Himself would be with His people. Jesus earlier told His disciples, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you… He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him” (John 14:18, 21).
Oh it’s true, He’s not with us physically. But the Holy Spirit has come to dwell with God’s people, and He is the One who makes Christ known in the hearts and minds of true believers. The Apostle Paul referred to Him as “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9). He helps us to see Christ in His Word and His sacraments. He gives us a felt sense of Christ’s Presence “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). This promise that Jesus Himself would be with us is without equal and should quiet our hearts in any circumstance in this world.
Look further and see that Jesus would be with us “always”. What dearly loved parent, husband, wife, or friend could ever make this promise? Sooner or later they’re taken from us and even while they are with us in this life, they can not be everywhere. And yet Jesus said, “I am with you always”. This means that Christ is with you anywhere on this planet, or the universe. David wrote, “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:9-10).
Christ is with His people every minute of every day to lead and guide, to pardon and forgive. He is with us to sanctify and strengthen, to comfort and protect. Christ is with us when we’re joyful, when we’re in sorrow, when we’re healthy, when we’re sick, when we’re prosperous, when we’re poor, when we’re on our death-beds. When you feel most alone, Christ is with you believer, always!
Finally, let us rejoice that Jesus added, “even to the end of the age”. Jesus Christ is not constrained by time; He brought it into existence! It doesn’t matter if this world continues for another year, a millennium, or 10,000 millenniums, Jesus will be with His people “even to the end of the age”. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
The unbelieving world can only look into the future and hope for the best. They depend solely upon their wits and good fortune. But believers can confidently say, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). They know that even after this age “we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) because “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). What a blessing that Christ has been and ever shall be with His people to the end of the age
Take heart in this New Year Christian. You can claim Christ’s promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. Put off worries, fears and uncertainties, Jesus is ever with you. The hymn writer put it this way;
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.