100:00:00,660 –> 00:00:08,840Where did you get the idea that if you follow200:00:08,840 –> 00:00:12,660Jesus you can expect a life that is free from300:00:12,660 –> 00:00:16,299failure, disappointment, and loss? Where did you get that idea?400:00:16,820 –> 00:00:20,040Did your Lord not say precisely the opposite?500:00:20,559 –> 00:00:23,459Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:23,459 –> 00:00:26,400I’m David Pick. Thanks for joining us today.700:00:26,400 –> 00:00:29,760Colin, where do you think that message of a troublefree Christian life800:00:29,840 –> 00:00:30,860actually comes from?900:00:30,860 –> 00:00:32,160Certainly not from Jesus.1000:00:32,160 –> 00:00:36,139Jesus says in this world you will have trouble.1100:00:36,279 –> 00:00:40,680So that kind of cuts into false idealism,1200:00:40,680 –> 00:00:44,520you know, perfectionism, everything that I should be, you know,1300:00:44,520 –> 00:00:45,919we’re not in heaven yet.1400:00:46,320 –> 00:00:49,040The church is not what the church one day will be.1500:00:49,139 –> 00:00:53,200None of us as Christians are yet where we one day will be.1600:00:53,400 –> 00:00:56,360We’re always dependent on grace in this world,1700:00:56,480 –> 00:00:59,119and we always face one degree of trouble or another.1800:00:59,119 –> 00:01:00,799It never quite goes away.1900:01:01,000 –> 00:01:03,200And yet, in Jesus Christ we are blessed.2000:01:03,279 –> 00:01:06,300So we’ve got to learn to live with this tension,2100:01:06,660 –> 00:01:09,379of the realities of this life and yet2200:01:09,379 –> 00:01:11,860the sufficiency of Jesus Christ2300:01:11,860 –> 00:01:13,839to face the realities of this life.2400:01:14,120 –> 00:01:15,559And of course, the way that we get that is2500:01:15,559 –> 00:01:16,940by coming back to the scripture2600:01:16,940 –> 00:01:19,080and looking at what he’s told us to expect2700:01:19,400 –> 00:01:21,220and leaning in what he’s promised us.2800:01:21,459 –> 00:01:24,339So join us, if you can, in John chapter 14.2900:01:24,519 –> 00:01:26,040As we continue the message3000:01:26,199 –> 00:01:29,040Jesus will take you to be with himself.3100:01:29,120 –> 00:01:30,120Here is Colin.3200:01:30,400 –> 00:01:31,720We’re going to look at the promise3300:01:31,720 –> 00:01:33,580of Jesus’ return today3400:01:33,580 –> 00:01:35,300and I want us to see three things.3500:01:36,160 –> 00:01:39,779First, that Jesus confronts us3600:01:40,279 –> 00:01:43,320with the reality of life in this world.3700:01:44,680 –> 00:01:48,500Second, that Jesus establishes our hope3800:01:48,500 –> 00:01:51,419not here in this world, but in another world.3900:01:52,519 –> 00:01:54,720And third, that Jesus calls us4000:01:54,720 –> 00:01:57,540to faith in himself.4100:01:58,440 –> 00:02:00,419Well, let’s begin, then, with Jesus confronts us4200:02:00,419 –> 00:02:02,860with the reality of life4300:02:02,860 –> 00:02:04,800and I want us to see what was happening4400:02:04,800 –> 00:02:08,279just before Jesus spoke these words in John 14.4500:02:09,600 –> 00:02:12,220You know that folks who are cynical about4600:02:12,220 –> 00:02:14,720Christianity often make the accusation4700:02:14,720 –> 00:02:17,339that Christianity is just a crutch4800:02:17,339 –> 00:02:19,020for weak people.4900:02:19,020 –> 00:02:20,199You know, if you can’t really face5000:02:20,199 –> 00:02:21,380the realities of life,5100:02:21,380 –> 00:02:22,759then religion will give you something5200:02:22,759 –> 00:02:24,660that you can lean on.5300:02:24,820 –> 00:02:29,479In fact, true Christianity is entirely the opposite.5400:02:29,479 –> 00:02:31,979If you follow Christ,5500:02:31,979 –> 00:02:34,119he will confront you5600:02:34,119 –> 00:02:36,839with the truth about yourself,5700:02:36,839 –> 00:02:38,020about other people,5800:02:38,020 –> 00:02:40,320and about the world in which you live.5900:02:40,320 –> 00:02:42,119He will confront you with truth6000:02:42,119 –> 00:02:43,919that most people6100:02:43,919 –> 00:02:47,500spend a large part of their lives avoiding.6200:02:48,460 –> 00:02:49,320Now that’s the first thing6300:02:49,320 –> 00:02:51,020that’s very important for us to grasp.6400:02:51,020 –> 00:02:52,979Here’s the second.6500:02:52,979 –> 00:02:56,679As Jesus confronts them with the reality of life,6600:02:56,679 –> 00:02:58,600the reality of our life,6700:02:58,600 –> 00:03:01,100he establishes their hope6800:03:01,100 –> 00:03:04,259and our hope in another world.6900:03:05,240 –> 00:03:07,179Now, what is Jesus going to say to us7000:03:07,179 –> 00:03:08,580about living in this world7100:03:08,580 –> 00:03:10,339of failure, and disappointment, and loss?7200:03:10,339 –> 00:03:12,419Well, let’s take it up in John chapter 147300:03:12,419 –> 00:03:14,600in these familiar words.7400:03:14,600 –> 00:03:16,699Jesus has confronted them with a reality.7500:03:16,699 –> 00:03:18,199Now, what will he say about it?7600:03:18,199 –> 00:03:19,820He says this.7700:03:20,000 –> 00:03:23,500Do not let your hearts be troubled.7800:03:24,720 –> 00:03:26,460Trust in God,7900:03:27,399 –> 00:03:29,919trust also in me.8000:03:29,919 –> 00:03:31,419Now look at what he says.8100:03:32,380 –> 00:03:34,960In my father’s house8200:03:36,080 –> 00:03:37,580are many rooms.8300:03:39,020 –> 00:03:40,559Now folks, this is astonishing.8400:03:40,559 –> 00:03:42,720Jesus has been talking about the realities8500:03:42,720 –> 00:03:45,440of our life and experience in this world,8600:03:46,240 –> 00:03:48,559and he calls us to trust him8700:03:48,619 –> 00:03:51,360in regard to a promise that relates8800:03:51,360 –> 00:03:52,720to another world.8900:03:52,720 –> 00:03:53,899Do you see that?9000:03:55,080 –> 00:03:59,199When Jesus says, do not let your hearts be troubled,9100:03:59,199 –> 00:04:01,940he’s not saying, look, do not let your hearts be troubled9200:04:01,940 –> 00:04:05,320because I will make this world a better place for you.9300:04:05,320 –> 00:04:08,300He’s not saying you will see that over millennia9400:04:08,300 –> 00:04:11,000as education improves and health improves9500:04:11,000 –> 00:04:13,880and longevity improves, you will find people9600:04:13,880 –> 00:04:16,200grow out of this experience of failure9700:04:16,200 –> 00:04:17,279and disappointment and loss.9800:04:17,399 –> 00:04:18,440He’s not saying that.9900:04:20,440 –> 00:04:22,920He’s not saying, as you become a more mature Christian,10000:04:22,920 –> 00:04:25,399if you pray more, if you grow in your sanctification,10100:04:25,399 –> 00:04:27,839if you gain a deeper knowledge of the Bible,10200:04:27,839 –> 00:04:30,959that your experience of failure and of disappointment10300:04:30,959 –> 00:04:32,420and loss will somehow recede.10400:04:32,420 –> 00:04:33,720He’s not saying that.10500:04:35,559 –> 00:04:39,119This fallen world will always be what it is,10600:04:39,119 –> 00:04:41,160the fallen world.10700:04:41,160 –> 00:04:44,519And with all of its blessings and with all of its joys,10800:04:44,519 –> 00:04:46,540our experience of life in this world10900:04:46,600 –> 00:04:48,239is scarred,11000:04:48,239 –> 00:04:50,320is scarred with failure,11100:04:50,320 –> 00:04:51,739it is scarred with disappointment,11200:04:51,739 –> 00:04:53,579and it is scarred with loss.11300:04:53,579 –> 00:04:56,600And so Jesus, confronting us with that reality,11400:04:56,600 –> 00:04:59,679establishes our hope, not in this world,11500:04:59,679 –> 00:05:02,079but in another world.11600:05:02,079 –> 00:05:03,559That is telling us very clearly11700:05:03,559 –> 00:05:04,959that sin and disappointment and loss11800:05:04,959 –> 00:05:07,380are woven into the fabric of life in this world,11900:05:07,380 –> 00:05:09,459and any attempt to suggest that somehow12000:05:09,459 –> 00:05:11,980we can move beyond them12100:05:11,980 –> 00:05:13,859is naive at the best12200:05:13,859 –> 00:05:16,480and deceptive at the worst.12300:05:17,519 –> 00:05:21,299Now, grasping this truth12400:05:21,299 –> 00:05:25,140will bring stability to your faith,12500:05:25,140 –> 00:05:28,839and this is why it is so important.12600:05:28,839 –> 00:05:32,779See, my burden today is that12700:05:32,779 –> 00:05:35,299some Christians12800:05:35,299 –> 00:05:38,279really are thrown too easily12900:05:38,279 –> 00:05:40,279into confusion.13000:05:42,640 –> 00:05:44,899They feel that they,13100:05:44,899 –> 00:05:46,420having faith in Christ,13200:05:46,420 –> 00:05:49,260somehow they should be insulated from failure,13300:05:49,260 –> 00:05:50,920insulated from disappointment,13400:05:50,920 –> 00:05:53,619and insulated from loss.13500:05:53,619 –> 00:05:55,380And so when a crisis comes,13600:05:55,380 –> 00:05:59,640either in their own lives or in the wider world,13700:05:59,640 –> 00:06:02,339they lose their moorings.13800:06:02,339 –> 00:06:03,500They’re adrift.13900:06:04,920 –> 00:06:06,500The foundations of their faith14000:06:06,500 –> 00:06:08,140seem to be completely shaken.14100:06:08,140 –> 00:06:11,459They lose themselves immediately in questioning,14200:06:11,519 –> 00:06:14,519you know, how could God possibly allow this to happen?14300:06:16,320 –> 00:06:18,500And if that’s you, if that’s the pattern of your life,14400:06:18,500 –> 00:06:20,179that you’re always being kind of adrift14500:06:20,179 –> 00:06:22,220whenever something goes wrong in your life14600:06:22,220 –> 00:06:24,140or something goes wrong in the world,14700:06:25,579 –> 00:06:27,119let me try and help you.14800:06:30,100 –> 00:06:33,140Where did you get the idea14900:06:34,820 –> 00:06:36,420that if you follow Jesus,15000:06:36,420 –> 00:06:39,540you can expect a life that is free15100:06:39,540 –> 00:06:41,420from failure, disappointment, and loss.15200:06:41,420 –> 00:06:42,940Where did you get that idea?15300:06:44,500 –> 00:06:48,140Did your Lord not say precisely the opposite?15400:06:49,619 –> 00:06:51,579Did your Lord not say,15500:06:51,579 –> 00:06:56,260there will be wars and rumors of wars?15600:06:56,260 –> 00:06:57,619Did he not say that?15700:06:57,619 –> 00:07:00,019Did he not say, there will be earthquakes?15800:07:00,019 –> 00:07:03,380Did he not say, there will be calamities?15900:07:03,380 –> 00:07:05,660Did he not say to his own disciples,16000:07:05,660 –> 00:07:08,859that is to us who follow him, trust in?16100:07:08,859 –> 00:07:10,739Did he not say to his own disciples,16200:07:10,739 –> 00:07:14,779in this world you will have trouble?16300:07:14,779 –> 00:07:18,299That’s John 16 33, did he not say that?16400:07:19,820 –> 00:07:22,540See, Jesus confronts his disciples,16500:07:22,540 –> 00:07:24,859he confronts us with the realities of life.16600:07:24,859 –> 00:07:28,079He says, in this world, you who trust me,16700:07:28,079 –> 00:07:30,100you who love me, you who follow me,16800:07:30,100 –> 00:07:32,600you will have trouble, please understand this.16900:07:32,600 –> 00:07:34,859And so he establishes our hope,17000:07:34,859 –> 00:07:38,559not in this world, but in another world.17100:07:39,480 –> 00:07:43,839Now that is critical to the stability of your faith.17200:07:45,679 –> 00:07:48,500See, if your hope is established in this world,17300:07:48,500 –> 00:07:52,519you will be shattered by failure and disappointment17400:07:52,519 –> 00:07:53,339and loss.17500:07:54,339 –> 00:07:57,500If your hope is in this world, what will you do17600:07:58,779 –> 00:08:01,880when you experience a loss that can never be replaced17700:08:01,880 –> 00:08:03,640in this life?17800:08:03,640 –> 00:08:05,920If your hope is in this world, what will you do17900:08:05,920 –> 00:08:07,760when you experience a disappointment18000:08:07,760 –> 00:08:09,160that lasts a lifetime?18100:08:10,279 –> 00:08:13,040If your hope is in this world, what will you do18200:08:13,040 –> 00:08:16,359when you hit a failure that changes longterm18300:08:16,359 –> 00:08:18,540the course of your life?18400:08:19,640 –> 00:08:23,079Now you see Jesus is establishing his disciples18500:08:23,079 –> 00:08:24,799in this critical moment18600:08:25,880 –> 00:08:29,679in a faith that can endure through the misery18700:08:29,679 –> 00:08:31,920of personal failure,18800:08:31,920 –> 00:08:35,599a faith that can survive the gut-wrenching pain18900:08:35,599 –> 00:08:37,880of disappointment,19000:08:37,880 –> 00:08:40,760a faith that will be able to stand19100:08:40,760 –> 00:08:45,039through the experience of an irreplaceable loss.19200:08:45,900 –> 00:08:47,760And to do that, there’s only one way19300:08:47,760 –> 00:08:49,440in which that can be established,19400:08:49,440 –> 00:08:51,940that faith has to be established19500:08:51,940 –> 00:08:54,080in a hope that is not in this world,19600:08:54,080 –> 00:08:56,580but is in a world to come.19700:08:56,580 –> 00:08:58,039And that is core to the gospel,19800:08:58,039 –> 00:08:58,880that is why Paul says,19900:08:58,880 –> 00:09:00,960in 1 Corinthians, in chapter 15,20000:09:01,159 –> 00:09:02,000he says,20100:09:13,780 –> 00:09:14,760And he goes on to say,20200:09:14,760 –> 00:09:16,640here’s our hope that Jesus Christ20300:09:16,640 –> 00:09:18,080has risen from the dead,20400:09:18,080 –> 00:09:20,239our hope is that He is the first fruits20500:09:20,239 –> 00:09:21,960of those who’ve fallen asleep.20600:09:22,960 –> 00:09:24,880So as Jesus confronts us now20700:09:24,880 –> 00:09:28,000with the painful realities of life in this world,20800:09:28,000 –> 00:09:29,820unavoidable, in every culture,20900:09:29,820 –> 00:09:31,340whether you are a Christian21000:09:31,340 –> 00:09:32,619or whether you’re not a Christian,21100:09:32,619 –> 00:09:34,880it’s the universal experience of life.21200:09:34,880 –> 00:09:36,659In this world you will have trouble,21300:09:36,659 –> 00:09:38,500you will experience your own failure,21400:09:38,500 –> 00:09:40,099you will be disappointed with other people21500:09:40,099 –> 00:09:42,979and you will experience loss.21600:09:42,979 –> 00:09:44,859That’s what it’s like in this world.21700:09:44,859 –> 00:09:45,739Now Jesus says,21800:09:45,739 –> 00:09:47,400your hope therefore must be established21900:09:47,400 –> 00:09:49,919not in this world, but in another world,22000:09:49,919 –> 00:09:52,719and Jesus answer to our experience of failure,22100:09:52,719 –> 00:09:54,159disappointment and loss,22200:09:54,159 –> 00:09:57,679lies in the Father’s house.22300:09:57,679 –> 00:10:00,500That is what we learned from these words in John 14.22400:10:02,880 –> 00:10:03,719And if you’re struggling with that,22500:10:03,719 –> 00:10:04,919and you maybe say,22600:10:04,919 –> 00:10:06,719yeah but don’t we have the Holy Spirit now?22700:10:06,719 –> 00:10:08,359Isn’t that what we were saying last week?22800:10:08,359 –> 00:10:10,119Yes, praise God we do.22900:10:11,700 –> 00:10:15,479Remember that the Holy Spirit is a deposit,23000:10:15,580 –> 00:10:18,520guaranteeing what is to come.23100:10:18,520 –> 00:10:21,820As mortgage language, a deposit,23200:10:21,820 –> 00:10:23,179what’s to come.23300:10:23,179 –> 00:10:25,099Paul says, the Holy Spirit is the deposit.23400:10:25,099 –> 00:10:25,940In other words,23500:10:25,940 –> 00:10:27,440everything that you know of Jesus right now,23600:10:27,440 –> 00:10:28,859all you joy in Him,23700:10:28,859 –> 00:10:31,700all the sanctification of the Holy Spirit,23800:10:31,700 –> 00:10:34,179is a small beginning,23900:10:34,179 –> 00:10:37,020a down payment of what will be yours24000:10:37,020 –> 00:10:39,780in the presence of Christ.24100:10:39,780 –> 00:10:41,619With unclouded joy,24200:10:42,780 –> 00:10:44,659for all eternity.24300:10:44,659 –> 00:10:48,539Your hope is established in another world.24400:10:48,539 –> 00:10:51,340Therefore, I have to see my life in this world24500:10:51,340 –> 00:10:52,159as a journey.24600:10:52,159 –> 00:10:53,500I am a pilgrim.24700:10:53,500 –> 00:10:56,380I do not belong here in a permanent way.24800:10:56,380 –> 00:10:58,500My life is hidden with Christ in God.24900:10:58,500 –> 00:11:00,099And what happens to me here,25000:11:00,099 –> 00:11:04,000including the failure and the disappointment and the loss25100:11:04,000 –> 00:11:07,020is the stuff in which God works,25200:11:07,020 –> 00:11:11,859preparing me for the Father’s house.25300:11:11,859 –> 00:11:13,659That’s a great encouragement, isn’t it?25400:11:13,700 –> 00:11:16,099That even the loss and failure25500:11:16,099 –> 00:11:18,000that we experience in this life,25600:11:18,000 –> 00:11:20,580God will use that to prepare us for life25700:11:20,580 –> 00:11:22,460in the Father’s house.25800:11:22,460 –> 00:11:23,820You’re listening to Open the Bible25900:11:23,820 –> 00:11:25,119with Pastor Colin Smith26000:11:25,119 –> 00:11:26,380and the message called26100:11:26,380 –> 00:11:29,340Jesus Will Take You to Be With Himself,26200:11:29,340 –> 00:11:30,659part of our series,26300:11:30,659 –> 00:11:34,219Rock Solid, Seven Promises Christ makes to you.26400:11:34,219 –> 00:11:36,299And if you’ve missed any of the series so far,26500:11:36,299 –> 00:11:39,039or if you want to go back and listen to them again,26600:11:39,039 –> 00:11:41,340they’re all available online at our website.26700:11:41,580 –> 00:11:44,520Openthebible.org.uk.26800:11:44,520 –> 00:11:46,059Also as a podcast,26900:11:46,059 –> 00:11:47,460on all the main podcast sites,27000:11:47,460 –> 00:11:49,599search for Open the Bible UK27100:11:49,599 –> 00:11:52,580or follow the link from our website.27200:11:52,580 –> 00:11:53,619Back to the message now,27300:11:53,619 –> 00:11:55,659here again is Colin.27400:11:55,659 –> 00:11:58,039So Jesus confronts us with the realities of life.27500:11:58,039 –> 00:12:00,059Isn’t it good that in real Christian faith27600:12:00,059 –> 00:12:01,859there’s absolutely no escapism?27700:12:03,179 –> 00:12:05,780And Jesus establishes our hope27800:12:05,780 –> 00:12:08,020not here but in another world.27900:12:08,020 –> 00:12:10,020Isn’t it good that in real Christian faith28000:12:10,159 –> 00:12:11,299there’s no naive optimism,28100:12:11,299 –> 00:12:13,599no sentimentality, no fluff?28200:12:14,780 –> 00:12:17,000Jesus talks reality.28300:12:17,000 –> 00:12:21,020To establish his disciples in a faith that will stand28400:12:21,979 –> 00:12:24,659in everything that life will throw at them.28500:12:24,659 –> 00:12:26,359Then here’s the last thing,28600:12:26,359 –> 00:12:29,619Jesus calls us to faith in himself.28700:12:29,619 –> 00:12:30,520And for that reason,28800:12:30,520 –> 00:12:32,299whatever the difficulties and the pressures28900:12:32,299 –> 00:12:33,500we face in this world,29000:12:33,500 –> 00:12:35,479whatever our own failures,29100:12:35,479 –> 00:12:37,179whatever our disappointments or loss,29200:12:37,179 –> 00:12:39,659there is no reason to despair.29300:12:39,659 –> 00:12:43,239Christ calls us to faith in himself.29400:12:44,280 –> 00:12:47,179I’m trying to picture Jesus walking with the disciples29500:12:48,380 –> 00:12:52,700and he’s confronted them with these realities29600:12:52,700 –> 00:12:53,900of their failure.29700:12:54,960 –> 00:12:56,599It’s all that disappointment with Judas29800:12:56,599 –> 00:12:57,440and now he said,29900:12:57,440 –> 00:12:59,840I’m only gonna be with you just a few more hours30000:13:01,380 –> 00:13:03,059and then must he not have turned to them30100:13:03,059 –> 00:13:07,179and I picture the piercing eyes of Jesus as best I can,30200:13:07,179 –> 00:13:09,479looking into the very souls of these men30300:13:09,940 –> 00:13:13,039and saying, now, do not let your heart be troubled.30400:13:13,039 –> 00:13:16,919You trust in God, you trust me, you trust me.30500:13:16,919 –> 00:13:18,400He’s calling them to faith30600:13:20,179 –> 00:13:23,380and in particular, he calls them to faith in this.30700:13:23,380 –> 00:13:27,679He says, in my father’s house, there are many rooms30800:13:27,679 –> 00:13:29,799and of course, he’s talking about heaven30900:13:29,799 –> 00:13:31,000from where he came31000:13:31,000 –> 00:13:34,200and to where he would shortly return31100:13:34,200 –> 00:13:36,760and he says to them, no you trust me here,31200:13:36,760 –> 00:13:38,140there is room for you there.31300:13:39,059 –> 00:13:40,940There’s room for you there31400:13:40,940 –> 00:13:42,979and I just love the fact that when Jesus speaks31500:13:42,979 –> 00:13:46,359about heaven, the image he chooses31600:13:46,359 –> 00:13:48,219to convey its wonderful reality31700:13:48,219 –> 00:13:51,500to us as he talks about it as home,31800:13:51,500 –> 00:13:55,380the father’s house, he’s saying to his disciples,31900:13:55,380 –> 00:13:58,500now you trust me, you’ll be more at home32000:13:58,500 –> 00:14:01,780in my father’s house than you have been32100:14:01,780 –> 00:14:06,780at any place in your life or any other time in your life32200:14:07,780 –> 00:14:09,700and then the Lord Jesus says this,32300:14:09,700 –> 00:14:13,919he says, I go to prepare a place for you.32400:14:15,260 –> 00:14:18,460Now please don’t have in your mind the idea32500:14:18,460 –> 00:14:20,559that Jesus is somehow working around the clock32600:14:20,559 –> 00:14:23,419to try and get heaven ready in time for us to go there.32700:14:23,419 –> 00:14:24,900That’s not what he’s saying here.32800:14:24,900 –> 00:14:28,140When you have guests, if you have a room32900:14:28,140 –> 00:14:29,739that has to be made ready for a guest,33000:14:29,739 –> 00:14:31,260is it like this in your home,33100:14:31,260 –> 00:14:33,039the last minute, oh, we better get it all tidied up,33200:14:33,039 –> 00:14:34,700get it organized, because they’re coming,33300:14:34,700 –> 00:14:35,820when are they are coming?33400:14:35,859 –> 00:14:38,500That is not how the Lord Jesus is preparing heaven.33500:14:38,500 –> 00:14:41,320Listen, he creates the cosmos with a word.33600:14:41,320 –> 00:14:45,219He can get heaven ready for believers in a single command.33700:14:45,219 –> 00:14:47,780So someone said to me last night,33800:14:47,780 –> 00:14:51,080I’ve heard preaching about how Jesus was a carpenter33900:14:51,080 –> 00:14:52,900and he’s been doing all this carpentry34000:14:52,900 –> 00:14:55,320for 2000 years in order to get.34100:14:55,320 –> 00:14:57,619I said forget that, forget that.34200:14:57,619 –> 00:14:59,859Listen, the son of God’s not struggling34300:14:59,859 –> 00:15:01,140to make heaven ready for you.34400:15:01,140 –> 00:15:03,080What’s he saying?34500:15:03,080 –> 00:15:08,080When he says, I go to prepare a place for you.34600:15:08,479 –> 00:15:13,479It means that through his going, the place is prepared.34700:15:15,320 –> 00:15:16,520And where is he going?34800:15:18,099 –> 00:15:19,679He’s going to the cross.34900:15:20,760 –> 00:15:22,260He’s going to the grave.35000:15:23,619 –> 00:15:24,859He’s going to die.35100:15:25,739 –> 00:15:28,380He is going to rise, he is going to ascend35200:15:28,380 –> 00:15:30,119to the right hand of the Father35300:15:30,119 –> 00:15:32,539and what he’s saying is this, through his dying35400:15:32,580 –> 00:15:34,940and through his rising and through his ascending,35500:15:34,940 –> 00:15:39,000he opens the way for the disciples into glory.35600:15:39,000 –> 00:15:40,820That’s how the place is prepared.35700:15:42,159 –> 00:15:44,260That’s why he says, don’t you be troubled.35800:15:44,260 –> 00:15:47,080I’m going from you now, but I’m going into death35900:15:47,080 –> 00:15:49,640and through death and I’m going to come out of death36000:15:49,640 –> 00:15:53,559and in this way, heaven will be opened to you.36100:15:53,559 –> 00:15:54,539It was marvelous.36200:15:56,119 –> 00:15:57,260I was thinking about this36300:15:57,260 –> 00:16:00,559after watching the Superbowl last Sunday.36400:16:00,559 –> 00:16:02,419Boy, that was a good game, wasn’t it?36500:16:03,500 –> 00:16:07,539Now, my imagination, come with me on this.36600:16:07,539 –> 00:16:11,940Imagine yourself on the field in the Superbowl36700:16:12,859 –> 00:16:15,140and amazingly the ball comes over36800:16:15,140 –> 00:16:17,400and it’s in your hand36900:16:18,380 –> 00:16:20,719and for one moment, right there in the Superbowl,37000:16:20,719 –> 00:16:23,15930 yards in front of you, you see the goal line37100:16:23,159 –> 00:16:26,539and all the crowd are cheering and the glory of it all37200:16:27,539 –> 00:16:29,679and you begin to move37300:16:30,559 –> 00:16:33,919and as you move there in front of you37400:16:35,039 –> 00:16:39,500are these defensive lineman, huge guys37500:16:40,359 –> 00:16:42,080and they’re looking right at you37600:16:43,580 –> 00:16:47,659and you read the names on their helmets in that moment.37700:16:49,140 –> 00:16:53,820One of them’s called Law, another one’s called Sin37800:16:54,919 –> 00:16:57,380another one’s called Death and behind them37900:16:57,380 –> 00:16:59,719there’s another one bigger and meaner and uglier38000:16:59,719 –> 00:17:02,619than them all, Satan himself.38100:17:05,160 –> 00:17:07,520And you look at them and you glimpse the glory38200:17:07,520 –> 00:17:12,520that’s beyond and you know that there is no way38300:17:12,540 –> 00:17:14,540past these guys for you.38400:17:15,599 –> 00:17:17,400They stand between you and the goal38500:17:17,400 –> 00:17:20,079and you know that they will flatten you38600:17:20,079 –> 00:17:22,280before you ever have a chance to get there.38700:17:22,939 –> 00:17:27,280But now an offensive line man38800:17:27,280 –> 00:17:29,959comes at great speed towards them.38900:17:31,500 –> 00:17:36,500They’re looking to take you out and he takes them out,39000:17:37,800 –> 00:17:40,380opening your way to the goal.39100:17:40,380 –> 00:17:42,459Folks, that is what The Lord Jesus Christ39200:17:42,459 –> 00:17:44,319has done for us on the cross.39300:17:44,319 –> 00:17:45,380When he says,39400:17:45,380 –> 00:17:47,000I go to prepare a place for you,39500:17:47,000 –> 00:17:49,280he’s talking about heaven being open39600:17:50,140 –> 00:17:52,739through his death and resurrection.39700:17:52,739 –> 00:17:56,660He’s talking about the flattening of the condemnation39800:17:56,660 –> 00:18:01,479of the law and of your sin and death and Satan himself39900:18:01,479 –> 00:18:04,300so that the way is open for you to enter40000:18:04,300 –> 00:18:06,719into the glory of the father’s house,40100:18:06,719 –> 00:18:08,219that is what he’s saying.40200:18:09,239 –> 00:18:11,640And then he says this,40300:18:11,640 –> 00:18:14,099and if I go to prepare a place for you40400:18:14,099 –> 00:18:16,160and that he has done,40500:18:16,160 –> 00:18:18,239I will come back40600:18:18,239 –> 00:18:22,800and take you to be with me.40700:18:22,800 –> 00:18:25,439Love that word, take you.40800:18:25,439 –> 00:18:28,199Jesus Christ will take all his people40900:18:28,199 –> 00:18:29,619into the father’s house.41000:18:29,619 –> 00:18:31,680There’s no other way into the father’s house41100:18:31,680 –> 00:18:34,760except that Jesus Christ who died and rose41200:18:34,760 –> 00:18:37,839should take you there and he gives you his word on this.41300:18:37,839 –> 00:18:40,140He says, as I go to die and rise for you,41400:18:40,140 –> 00:18:41,319I will take you.41500:18:41,319 –> 00:18:43,520I will come back and I will take you41600:18:43,520 –> 00:18:47,699into the father’s house and he will do this for you41700:18:47,699 –> 00:18:49,300in one of two ways.41800:18:50,880 –> 00:18:54,020If you die before Christ comes,41900:18:55,140 –> 00:19:00,180he will take you into the father’s house without the body.42000:19:00,180 –> 00:19:01,900Well, some of us will be here perhaps42100:19:01,900 –> 00:19:04,739and we’ll have a service and your body may be brought in42200:19:04,739 –> 00:19:07,420in a casket here, maybe buried in the ground,42300:19:07,420 –> 00:19:08,619but you will not be here.42400:19:08,619 –> 00:19:11,000You will be absent from the body42500:19:11,000 –> 00:19:14,060and you will be present with the Lord42600:19:14,060 –> 00:19:17,560because Jesus Christ has taken you there.42700:19:18,540 –> 00:19:23,020And if you live until Christ comes,42800:19:23,020 –> 00:19:26,540then he will take you into the father’s house in the body.42900:19:26,540 –> 00:19:29,819You will be caught up to meet with him in the air43000:19:29,819 –> 00:19:32,400and then your body will be transformed,43100:19:32,400 –> 00:19:33,780in a moment the Bible says,43200:19:33,780 –> 00:19:35,459in the twinkling of an eye43300:19:35,459 –> 00:19:37,819to become like his resurrection body43400:19:37,819 –> 00:19:40,000adapted and prepared for all eternity.43500:19:40,000 –> 00:19:41,280But either way,43600:19:42,739 –> 00:19:47,300it will be Christ who takes you into the father’s house.43700:19:48,599 –> 00:19:50,699Now I end simply by reading this description43800:19:50,699 –> 00:19:52,900of what that day will be like43900:19:52,900 –> 00:19:56,459from First Thessalonians words that many of you know well.44000:19:56,459 –> 00:19:59,300But it’s just fascinating to me that Paul says there,44100:20:00,660 –> 00:20:05,319according to the Lord’s own word, we say.44200:20:06,219 –> 00:20:07,380And it’s discussed much,44300:20:07,380 –> 00:20:10,020about what word of Jesus did Paul have in mind44400:20:10,020 –> 00:20:12,119when he writes about the second coming of the Lord,44500:20:12,119 –> 00:20:13,780I think,44600:20:13,780 –> 00:20:15,979he’s gotta be talking about John 14, hasn’t he?44700:20:16,040 –> 00:20:17,979According to the Lord’s own word.44800:20:17,979 –> 00:20:20,680And he said, I go to prepare a place for you44900:20:20,680 –> 00:20:21,719and I will come back.45000:20:21,719 –> 00:20:24,739And I will take you to be with me45100:20:24,739 –> 00:20:26,780that where I am you may be also.45200:20:28,420 –> 00:20:30,780Paul says according to the Lord Jesus’s own word,45300:20:30,780 –> 00:20:32,699we tell you this.45400:20:32,699 –> 00:20:35,020The Lord himself will come down from heaven45500:20:35,020 –> 00:20:38,079with a loud command and with a voice of the Archangel45600:20:38,079 –> 00:20:39,660and the trumpet call of God45700:20:39,660 –> 00:20:41,199and the dead in Christ,45800:20:41,199 –> 00:20:43,900that’s those who have already gone to be with him,45900:20:43,900 –> 00:20:45,900will rise first.46000:20:46,520 –> 00:20:49,699And after that, we who are still alive and are left46100:20:49,699 –> 00:20:53,579will be caught up together with them in the clouds46200:20:53,579 –> 00:20:56,160to meet the Lord in the air46300:20:56,160 –> 00:21:00,900and so we will be with the Lord forever.46400:21:02,339 –> 00:21:04,300And then he says, so,46500:21:04,300 –> 00:21:06,939encourage one another46600:21:08,500 –> 00:21:10,140with these words.46700:21:11,380 –> 00:21:12,880You’ve been listening to Open the Bible46800:21:13,020 –> 00:21:15,660with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called46900:21:15,660 –> 00:21:18,560Jesus Will Take You to Be with Himself.47000:21:18,560 –> 00:21:20,959Part of our series, Rock Solid.47100:21:20,959 –> 00:21:23,599Seven Promises Christ Makes to You.47200:21:23,599 –> 00:21:26,020And don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series,47300:21:26,020 –> 00:21:28,979you can easily catch up or go back and listen again47400:21:28,979 –> 00:21:33,400by coming to our website openthebible.org.uk47500:21:33,400 –> 00:21:35,560or by going to your favourite podcast site47600:21:35,560 –> 00:21:38,180and searching for Open the Bible UK.47700:21:38,180 –> 00:21:40,160There, you’ll find all the messages47800:21:40,160 –> 00:21:42,680which have already gone out on air.47900:21:42,880 –> 00:21:46,119While you’re on the website or checking out our podcast,48000:21:46,119 –> 00:21:48,540don’t forget about Open the Bible Daily.48100:21:48,540 –> 00:21:50,239That’s our series of short48200:21:50,239 –> 00:21:52,719two to three-minute daily reflections48300:21:52,719 –> 00:21:54,599based on Pastor Colin’s teaching48400:21:54,599 –> 00:21:57,260and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.48500:21:57,260 –> 00:21:58,560There’s a new one every day48600:21:58,560 –> 00:22:00,959and many Christians find it’s a wonderful way48700:22:00,959 –> 00:22:02,040to start the day.48800:22:02,040 –> 00:22:03,180So check it out.48900:22:03,180 –> 00:22:05,239Open the Bible Daily.49000:22:05,239 –> 00:22:08,400At Open the Bible we welcome contact with our listeners.49100:22:08,400 –> 00:22:11,599If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching49200:22:11,599 –> 00:22:13,479and you’d like to reach out to us,49300:22:13,479 –> 00:22:16,280you can write to us at Open the Bible,49400:22:16,280 –> 00:22:21,079P.O. Box 1420 Cheltenham GL50 9PG.49500:22:23,280 –> 00:22:25,859That address, along with an email address49600:22:25,859 –> 00:22:29,239and a telephone number that you can use to contact us49700:22:29,239 –> 00:22:34,239are all on our website, openthebible.org.uk.49800:22:34,300 –> 00:22:37,560Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.49900:22:37,560 –> 00:22:41,300It’s you that keep us on this station and on the internet.50000:22:41,319 –> 00:22:44,939And we’re extremely grateful for the support you give us.50100:22:44,939 –> 00:22:45,839If that’s something50200:22:45,839 –> 00:22:47,900you’ve been considering doing yourself,50300:22:47,900 –> 00:22:50,599then this month we have a great offer for you.50400:22:50,599 –> 00:22:53,459If you’re able to start a new direct debit50500:22:53,459 –> 00:22:55,300to the work of Open the Bible50600:22:55,300 –> 00:22:57,660for 5 pounds per month or more50700:22:57,660 –> 00:23:00,880or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,50800:23:00,880 –> 00:23:02,260we’d love to say thank you50900:23:02,260 –> 00:23:05,660by sending you two copies of Pastor Colin’s book,51000:23:05,660 –> 00:23:06,900Christmas Stories,51100:23:06,900 –> 00:23:09,420along with five beautiful Christmas cards51200:23:09,439 –> 00:23:12,560with illustrations taken from the book.51300:23:12,560 –> 00:23:15,099Christmas Stories is the Christmas story51400:23:15,099 –> 00:23:16,540seen from the perspective51500:23:16,540 –> 00:23:19,180of several different biblical characters,51600:23:19,180 –> 00:23:24,180the angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, even King Herod.51700:23:25,380 –> 00:23:27,939Colin, what’s one thing you would like people51800:23:27,939 –> 00:23:30,099to take away from reading this book?51900:23:30,099 –> 00:23:32,780Well, I really hope and pray that when people read this,52000:23:32,780 –> 00:23:35,939they will just have a fresh sense of wonder52100:23:36,339 –> 00:23:40,219at what it meant for God to become a man in Christ Jesus,52200:23:40,219 –> 00:23:42,699for the Lord Jesus to be born into the world52300:23:42,699 –> 00:23:43,979and to become our Saviour.52400:23:43,979 –> 00:23:47,180It is indeed the greatest story ever told,52500:23:47,180 –> 00:23:50,619and for it to be fresh and to be seen in its wonder52600:23:50,619 –> 00:23:52,339is just a marvellous thing.52700:23:52,339 –> 00:23:54,739But then I hope that having read it,52800:23:54,739 –> 00:23:57,099people will take the opportunity52900:23:57,099 –> 00:23:59,459to perhaps read one of these chapters53000:23:59,459 –> 00:24:01,140at the dinner table at Christmas53100:24:01,140 –> 00:24:02,619or at some other Christmas event53200:24:02,619 –> 00:24:04,219where loved ones are gathered together,53300:24:04,219 –> 00:24:06,180and you could just take this little book out,53400:24:06,180 –> 00:24:07,540Christmas Stories,53500:24:07,540 –> 00:24:08,459and you could say,53600:24:08,459 –> 00:24:10,979let’s take five minutes before we eat53700:24:10,979 –> 00:24:12,939to read the Christmas story,53800:24:12,939 –> 00:24:15,500or perhaps after the meal would be a good time to do it.53900:24:15,500 –> 00:24:18,420It will only take about five minutes at the most54000:24:18,420 –> 00:24:19,339to read this,54100:24:19,540 –> 00:24:23,219but it is a way of presenting to people you know and love54200:24:23,219 –> 00:24:26,180who may be in your home and celebrating Christmas with you54300:24:26,180 –> 00:24:28,699the good news of Jesus Christ54400:24:28,699 –> 00:24:31,060so that eyes may be directed to Him.54500:24:31,260 –> 00:24:33,300Two copies of Christmas Stories54600:24:33,339 –> 00:24:35,739along with five lovely postcards54700:24:35,739 –> 00:24:37,859are our gift to you this month54800:24:37,979 –> 00:24:40,579if you are able to begin a new Direct Debit54900:24:40,579 –> 00:24:42,099to the work of Open the Bible55000:24:42,459 –> 00:24:45,099in the amount of 5 pounds per month or more,55100:24:45,140 –> 00:24:47,619or a One Off Gift of 50 pounds or more.55200:24:47,699 –> 00:24:49,099Full details,55300:24:49,099 –> 00:24:50,339terms and conditions55400:24:50,380 –> 00:24:54,380are on our website at openthebible.org.uk55500:24:54,459 –> 00:24:56,180and you can give online.55600:24:56,459 –> 00:24:57,619Don’t forget, please,55700:24:57,619 –> 00:24:59,819if you want to take advantage of this offer,55800:25:00,060 –> 00:25:01,699don’t give anonymously55900:25:01,699 –> 00:25:04,020and do leave your full name and address56000:25:04,020 –> 00:25:06,180so we can send you your free gift.56100:25:07,060 –> 00:25:08,300For Open the Bible,56200:25:08,300 –> 00:25:09,300Pastor Colin Smith,56300:25:09,300 –> 00:25:10,739I’m David Pick56400:25:10,739 –> 00:25:13,300and I hope you’ll join us again next time.56500:25:17,939 –> 00:25:19,020You can be certain56600:25:19,020 –> 00:25:20,739that Jesus is coming back56700:25:20,739 –> 00:25:22,900to take you to be with himself.56800:25:23,380 –> 00:25:26,339Find out why next time on Open the Bible.