The Hour Is Now Come

But take notice, the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
[John 16:32-33 AMPC]

Snowdrops in Kilmartin Churchyard — January 2021

In these terrible times — particularly now, when we are forbidden from gathering in Jesus’ name — it is easy to succumb to feelings of anxiety, depression and lassitude — or even feeling the need to struggle against the onset of these things. These things — nowadays placed under the heading of ‘mental health issues’, and ‘problems of the mind’ — ignore the spiritual dimension.

Modern healthcare has become greatly adept at dealing with the body and the mind, often leaving the Spirit on the sickbed, fighting for life. The insidious feeling of ‘losing control’ seeps through every fibre. In this way, the world is the overcomer, seizing the opportunity to claim yet another victim.

When in such a state, we can read the words of Jesus; “I have overcome the world”, but struggle to believe those words for the amazing lifeline they are. “The hour is coming, yes, has now come”, or “is now come” as the King James Version has it. For what? It is the time when “you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave [Jesus] alone”

What our Lord is showing us is that such moments will come into every believer’s life, and that those moment will always be a ‘now’ in our experience, but that we should not despair — difficult though that may appear to us — because He who abides at our very centre, when we centre ourselves in Him will perform a resurrection miracle, just as He did with Lazarus...

Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me [that You have made Me Your Messenger].
When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out!
And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.
[John 11:40-44 AMPC]

Turn your eyes toward Jesus is always the answer and sometimes immediately, sometimes in a measured way He will raise you up to His side. That is why we should be of good cheer no matter what May befall.

Sunday 31st January 2021

Let me plead with you, as though Christ besought you, do not be disobedient to the heavenly vision. There is only one purpose for your life, and that is the satisfaction of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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