As we continue the celebration of Advent, let’s take a moment to consider two very important promises that Jesus made to His disciples as He was preparing them for His sudden departure. See John 14. Jesus knew His disciples were going to be shocked by His suffering, death and burial. They assumed that Jesus was preparing to overthrow their Roman enemy and restore Israel’s sovereignty. Even though He had spent nearly three years teaching them about His kingdom, they still did not understand that Jesus didn’t come to conquer Rome, instead, He came to conquer the greatest enemy of all: Death. As He consoles them, He makes two important promises – to them and to us.

First, Jesus promised that He would return and take us to our eternal home. We were designed for eternal life and communion with God. Sin squandered that eternal potential, and introduced condemnation and death into our story. But even in our fallen and condemned state, we remain well-aware of eternity, and we long to be restored to it. The concept of life ending is foreign to our eternal instincts and results in slavery to a fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

This first promise of Jesus confirms what our hearts already know—that we were made for eternity. We receive eternal life the moment we trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life.” Whoever believes will not perish! Jesus keeps His promise and it immediately reconciles our instincts to our holy and eternal design. The result is freedom from the fear of death.

Second, Jesus promised that He would send His Holy Spirit to be our comforter, counselor, teacher and guide. Jesus declared that through the infilling presence of the Holy Spirit, we would be empowered to do even great works than He did! Greater works than He did? Yes! The works and miracles that Jesus performed – healing the blind and lame and deaf and raising the dead back to life – were temporary. The people he healed sooner or later got sick again and the people He raised from the dead died again. But when we are used by God’s Spirit to bring someone to faith in Jesus and they receive eternal life, that miracle is forever! There is no greater work accomplished on this earth than when a lost soul is reconciled to God through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ!

This promise also confirms what our hearts already know—that we were made for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Being restored to purpose removes any sense of meaninglessness and fills us with the confidence that we will hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” Matthew 25:21

Promises Kept

Jesus has already fulfilled His promises. Eternal life and holy purpose can be yours today. There is no need to wait or hope—the reconciled eternal and purposeful life is for now. Today is the day of salvation! Today is the day of purpose! What are you waiting for?

Whoever Believes has Confidence!

To receive eternal life and purpose, Jesus asks us to believe, but He wasn’t referring to a level of belief that is devoid of trust. Without trust, belief hopes that something is true while keeping both feet firmly planted in doubt. Hope is where belief is stirred, but James recognized that belief without trust is dead. See James 2.

Belief with trust is different. Trust allows us to move beyond hoping something is true to knowing something is true. Trust allows itself to fully rely on what it claims to believe. Have you placed your full trust in Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord? If so, then hope has blossomed into confidence! “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” I John 5:14-15

Jesus is coming again and it could happen at any moment – even before you finish reading this article. Does that statement cause you to experience anxiety or fear? It doesn’t need to. In fact, it can fill you with great anticipation! In Revelation 22:20 MSG, John responds to Jesus’ statement, “I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon!” by saying, “Yes! Come, Master Jesus!” John had confidence because he had placed his full trust in Jesus Christ. What about you?