Be of Good Cheer

My previous two articles, God is Speaking and Statistics of God's Moving chronicled our situation in America and around the world. They we not very comfortable words to contemplate but, Jesus also gives us hope in the midst of trouble and judgment:


"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33


Jesus, who certainly speaks much about the end of the age and the disastrous judgments that will befall the world, also speaks about those who in the midst of it all can be of good cheer! Who are those of good cheer? They are those who know the end of the story - Jesus has overcome the world and He wins in the end! Every knee will bow to Him, both human and demonic, and His kingdom of peace and love is coming - HALLELUJAH!


Jesus spoke much about "being of good cheer": in Matthew 9:2 He said  be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee - in Matthew 14:27 He said  Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid - in Mark 6:50 he said Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid - and in Acts 23:11 the Lord spoke to Paul,  Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 


We can be of good cheer if our sins are forgiven, for the devil has nothing of which he can accuse us. We can be of good cheer and not be afraid because He said "I will never leave nor forsake you" in every situation, good or bad. We can be of good cheer because we get the privileged of witnessing about Jesus knowing He is with us as we witness.


There is so much written in Scripture about our reasons for not being afraid - "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" and "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" and "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." - Psalm 23.


Psalm 91 encourages us that if we dwell in the secret place of the Most High we shall abide under the protecting shadow of the Almighty and "He will deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence". A "thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you." He promises "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling for He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways." Now, that's what I call a good insurance policy! Of course, we must abide in the secret place with God. Jesus said "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." - John 15:4. If we follow Jesus and submit to His ways, we will abide in the secret place with God.