ODJ: trust in a suspicious world

January 3, 2014 

READ: John 14:1-6 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (v.6).

My bottle of water tastes good, but how can I trust the claim that it was sourced from a mountain spring? It’s reported that nearly 40 percent of bottled water is ordinary tap water. Also, many in the UK and Europe are wary that their beef may well contain some horse meat. Tests on meat labelled “beef” have exposed widespread fraud in the food industry as horse DNA has been identified. Stories like these breed cynicism, fear and mistrust.

In the midst of a suspicious culture, there’s One we can trust. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). People, on the otherhand, can be fickle—they let us down and disappoint us. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jeremiah 17:9). But we can trust God and His changeless Word. “I am the LORD and I do not change” (Malachi 3:6).

If you’ve been burnt by someone you trusted, bruised by the cold reality of broken promises, Jesus says, “Don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). Scripture does, however, warn us to be wise: “Guard your heart above all else” (Proverbs 4:23).

As we walk in step with Jesus, we can discern who to trust, where to go and what to do. In John 8:32, Jesus reaffirms His promise: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”—a promise that lasts a lifetime. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I’m encouraged as I think of this hymn by Edward Mote: “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand”. —Ruth O’Reilly-Smith
› Genesis 4:1-16