From the Pulpit: Certainty in the Savior

“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.” Many of us know that this line–from the movie Forrest Gump – rings true each day of our lives.

Life is full of uncertainty. How does that make you feel? Afraid? Insecure? Worried? It’s not easy never knowing what is coming next. It’s not easy knowing some of your best laid plans can all be changed in a moment. It’s not easy when things fall apart and seem to be out of your control. Life is like … and you fill in the blank.

Life is also full of certainty. Not because of what chaos brings, but what Christ brings. How can you be sure?

“Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’” (John 14:6)

“The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25)

“Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32)

Listen to the certainty that Christ and His Word gives.

“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ …  and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

Life is full of certainty. How does that make you feel? Fearless and calm? Peaceful and composed? Confident and content? It’s still not easy facing the uncertainties of life. But we face those with the certainty Jesus brings. The certainty of forgiveness He won at the cross. The certainty that heaven is our home, promised in your Baptism. The certainty that you are never alone, because Jesus says, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) I may not know what life is “like” for each and every one of you. But how thankful we are for what life is like in Jesus.