MORE COMFORT

This world is not a very comfortable place. It gets too hot for us in the Summer but too cold for us in the Winter. It's uncomfortable when we sit too long, but it's also uncomfortable when we stand too long. It's uncomfortable to be hungry, but it's also uncomfortable when we eat too much.

But you probably didn't come here just to talk about physical comfort. You need more comfort in your heart, in your mind and in your relationships. Probably the first thing we should do is to ask why there is so much discomfort?

Sometimes my discomfort is my own doing. I make foolish decisions and suffer the consequences; I hurt someone with careless words and feel anything but comfortable the next time I see them. I'm one of the biggest reasons I need more comfort.

But sometimes discomfort isn't our fault at all. People you know and trust let you down; friends disappoint and discourage you; other people take advantage of you or simply don't care about how their words and actions affect you.

Then again, sometimes your discomfort is nobody's fault, it just happens because this world is such an uncomfortable place- but it wasn't meant to be that way.

When God first made this world it was a place of complete joy, peace, beauty and total comfort. He made humans so we would be able to live together in perfect love and unity. But all of that was lost to us when our first parents turned away from God and replaced peace with hostility, comfort with discomfort, life with death. Their rebellion against God's command, and our daily sins against God, our fellow humans and creation have caused the discomfort we all feel.

So where can you find more comfort? Some people tell you to look deep down inside yourself and try a little harder; others say you have to surround yourself with the right people. That may bring a little more comfort sometimes, but if you want deep, lasting comfort you have to look to the One who created this world in the first place.

God had a plan to repair His broken world and bring His scattered human family back together again. He sent His own Son Jesus Christ to leave the comfort of His home to share our discomfort. He left the love and praise of His perfect home to walk and live with people who misunderstood Him, rejected and abused Him, mocked and ridiculed Him, tortured and finally murdered Him. He died in horrible, comfortless agony on the cross to bring overflowing comfort to us all.

How could Jesus' terrible suffering and death bring us comfort? Because He took our place, suffering God's punishment and satisfying all His anger against us. On the third day He rose to life again, and by the power of that restored life He promises to come to us again, restore our relationship to God and each other, and prepare us for the day when He will return and make His creation perfect- and perfectly comfortable- and this time it will last forever!

Then night before He died Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3) As we await that day, His promise gives us hope, encouragement and more comfort to face any and all discomfort that comes our way.