The images on the screen lately have been bleak.  I’m thinking of falling stock market prices, pundits speaking about catastrophic global economic meltdown, and then there’s also the senseless violence on the UK streets.  How does this make you feel? How are you feeling about the future—for yourself and your family?  How much does fear rule you?

I want to remind you about one thing Jesus Christ said.  It’s a promise that can bring true peace to anyone as they come to know Jesus.  It’s the promise of, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrew 13:5)

So let’s get all ‘doomsday-y’ for a moment and imagine a few things. Imagine your superannuation savings are wiped away.  Imagine your salary package has to be cut by half.  Imagine you are force to sell your house.  Imagine you are forced to take your kids out of the school that you’re paying for. With such a scenario, will you be able to have true peace?  God’s promise is ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you“?  Imagine your household budget has to be radically altered in order to pay for the basic needs, let alone your normal wants.  With such a scenario, will you be able to be compassionate, looking out for the needs of others, rather than just living by the motto ‘every man for himself’?  God’s promise is ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.  And on top of all that, when you see people living ways that are destructive for themselves and for others (I’m thinking of violence on the streets, but also society’s increasingly ‘anything goes’ view of sexuality and marriage), will you be able to love your community and remain a servant to your community, rather than increasingly withdraw from society out of fear of  being tainted by the ways of the world?  God’s promise is ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

Now as always we all need to know Jesus.  We need to know his love and commitment to us.  We need to remember that he gave his life for us on the cross and has secured heaven for us if we only place our dependence on him.  He is utterly, completely, without qualification, head over heels, for us.  That won’t change no matter what may come in our future. We need to remember Jesus’ wonderful words, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.