Photo by Simon Impei on Unsplash
Introduction:
I have been listening to someone drilling holes into a concrete wall for three (3) hours now. Carrying a conversation with someone is difficult, especially when you’re within close proximity to the drilling. The only solution is to move further away from the noise to carry a better, less vocally straining conversation. It’s beautiful how despite the incessant drilling noise, we are able to receive a revelation.
Main Text
“Behold the hour is coming indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:32-33 ESV
Context
In the chapters leading up to this, Jesus was talking about how He was the way, the truth, and the life, He also gave the promise of the Holy Spirit, He also shared how He was the true vine, as well as being hated by the world. Jesus was preparing them for the works of His early ministry and how they will be facing a lot of hardships and persecution and this was a reassurance of sorts for His disciples.
Observations
1. Jesus foreshadows His death and what the disciples will do until He returns.
“Behold the hour is coming indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.”
When Jesus was arrested all of the disciples abandoned Him returning to where they were from and doing what they did before they were called to follow Jesus.
2. Jesus reveals more about His relationship to the Father
“Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”
He not only reveals the omnipresence of God, but also His relationship as the Son of God revealing to us a small part of their union. Though He may seem physically alone, He is never truly abandoned.
3. He reassures them of what they are about to face
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
More prophecies about what is to come and the reassurance for the task they did not know they would be doing.
Application
So back to the drill. Imagine that the drill is the world, it’s blasting your ear with the need for more “more money, more power, more sales, more gadgets, more cars.” Godly ambition is good, but when that ambition turns into an endless desire for more forcing you to make more compromises with your values or deafening your ear to the voice of God, we begin to see problems. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we have a problem, or maybe we are but cannot seem to accept it. Let’s look at three (3) things that we can do in order to identify if we are listening to the world more than we are to God.
1. How has it been impacting your relationship with others?
“I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV
This verse shows us how we should be treating others: humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity. I remember something I learned back in college, I forgot who said it, but I remember what he said very clearly: “You should not be shouting while you are leading.”
While it is applicable when it comes to leadership, it is equally applicable when it comes to relationship. If your manner of communication has turned from talking to shouting, there might be an underlying cause that you need to fix, something on their mind, stress, or something that is just bothering them.
2. Have you still been spending time learning God’s word?
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105 ESV
Admittedly, going through our daily devotions can be tiresome, especially when we have a busy day, but when your major decisions are not both logically and prayerfully decided on, you might be relying on your strength over God’s.
The Word of God is difficult to pin down. It’s very old, yet still applicable in the modern age after some analysis. There is a wisdom you can only find when reading the word of God.
I remember an argument I had before I became a Christian, I said “I didn’t need the bible or prayer to know what I was supposed to do after careful logical consideration.” Now that I am a Christian, I realize something more: if the Word of God and logical analysis leads to the same conclusion, the bible said it first.
3. Do you sense God’s peace?
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Why do we have a lot of rich people who feel empty? Why do we sometimes feel like our large successes are not fulfilling? Why can we sometimes get exactly what we want, but not be happy? Because there is no peace. No matter how many lectures we go to, how much money we make, how many services we attend, how many ministries we volunteer for or how many good deeds we do, peace does not come from an action, but a person and that person is Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Let’s conclude with something I heard from Pastor Jeremy Foster at Hope City “it can look and feel right, but if there is no peace then you need to reflect.” We can be in a great position in life, yet not find peace and get frustrated when we see people who are happier or more peaceful with less.
Our minds are always so pre-occupied with problems, worries, and anxieties and it’s starting to feel like a drill right next to our ears. When everything is begging for your attention that it starts to drown out the voice that is talking to you, it might be time to take a step back and move away from the noise and have a heartfelt conversation with God because when we move further away from the world and move closer to Him, we hear the world less and start hearing Him more.