By: Juliet Constantine

“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50 NKJV)
 

Amazing! Whatever He says will bring you eternal life. In the face of oppression, hopelessness and death, you would think that the offer of freedom, and to live eternally, would be gladly embraced. In the midst of such chaos, there was more than a glimmer of hope. The people were offered the best way to live; yet, they seemed to have reached the point of dark hopelessness. Maybe they had suffered so long, and had been abused by both Romans and the church leaders of their day so often, that their hearts were hardened in unbelief. They heard that things would get better, that deliverance would come. But over the decades nothing had changed. Now, this lone stranger claimed to be the Messiah. He didn’t even have an army (or so they thought). What could He do to bring justice, freedom and to restore hope?

In one last attempt before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus tried to tell His audience that He was there to give them everlasting life. He seemed to invite them to examine His words and actions as He reminded them that all that He did came from instructions from His Father; and if they followed, they would have eternal life. He spoke life to them because He wanted them to live and not die. Not just in their circumstances then, but He wanted them to live eternally. He spoke hope to their hopelessness; peace to their troubled minds. Still, it seems as if their hard life had even hardened their hearts to the hope He offered. Still, He spoke life. He seems to say: “There’s no need to die. You can live and live eternally!”

Our struggles today, are no different from the people who lived them. We all have hardships, sometimes there seems to be no hope, no reason to carry on, there’s no way to turn. In times like these, we feel like giving up, walking away, ending it all. In the midst of all these turmoil, He speaks life. He showed us an escape route. He gave us more than a glimmer of hope to try again, to carry on, and to hold on a little longer. He reminded us that we will live eternally. He showed us the dawn and sunshine that would surely follow when our darkness was passed. The morning of hope would dawn soon. There’s no need to die, to end it all, and there’s certainly no need to give up on life. Something better is coming. Wait for it. Our struggle now is just a test. Tests do not last for long – they are only for a season. Things will change. He speaks life. “I know that His command leads to eternal life.”

I must believe that He has my best interest at heart. And just as He did, He bids me speak life over my situations. I will speak positive hope over my family and my job. I will speak eternal life over my life. I will not die here. There is hope. I’ve come too far to give up now. My dawn will be seen at the breaking of the day. I will live. Suicide isn’t a solution. I will hold on. I will stay the course. I will live and not die.

He is speaking life to you now. Can you hear Him? Open your heart in belief. You will live and not die!

Oh my Father, thank You for speaking life to me and my situations. Please help me to keep my eyes on You and not on the troubles all around me. Fasten my faith and hope in You, dear God. For I ask in all in Jesus’ name, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)