Wouldn’t it be nice if, as soon as you receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you went straight to heaven? No more hassles. Be with God.

But it sure doesn’t work that way, does it? We still have to live in this world. And we find that we have changed, and we can’t live like we used to. But then we aren’t so good at being holy, either.

How do we live rightly in a toxic environment?

On the last night of His life Jesus is concerned that His disciples be able to live after His departure.

This is eternal life, on earth.

The problem with this, is this world is a toxic environment. It doesn’t give life, it takes life. So Jesus prays that the Father keeps His disciples in His name.

We say, really? That’s what I need to live eternal life? What’s important about His name?

This morning we address one of the biggest problems there is in the world today. Everybody struggles with it, even Christians, even pastors, even every single person in the world. It doesn’t matter if you believe in Jesus or not, everyone has a problem in this area. Everyone suffers alike.

Does God love me? We all know, yes, God loves me. But it makes no difference in our lives. That’s because to know the love of God you have to experience it.

That is what Jesus is praying for today.

Jesus’ disciples think they’re finally ready for anything to happen. But Jesus knows better. He’s been trying to warn them. But what’s going to happen will take them by surprise and shock them so that they will hardly be able to function.

What they really need is peace that will keep them while suffering emotionally and physically.

So how do you get that?

We face a lot of crises nowadays. World epidemic, economic crunch, fake news, racism, polarisation such that people cannot agree to disagree. There is conflict and tension. What would you think is the worst crisis we face?

None of these things.

Peace, love, joy, abiding in Christ. Conflict.

What? Somebody, somewhere, is going to have a real problem with you following Christ.

The result of sin is that we naturally have no relationship with God. The increasing trend in this world is like it says in Psalm 2: “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” That’s a good idea! Who needs the slavery and confinement to obey an arbitrary tyrant?

The problem with that is when we have no bond with God we don’t have bonds with those around us. We want loyalty, we want commitment, and trust.

“Here’s the way to live life to the fullest: find what it is that moves you, and embrace it, join yourself to it, and pursue it to the fullest. That’s how you find satisfaction, that’s how you find meaning, that’s how you find life.”

That statement is wrong. Do you know why?

Jesus is leaving, the disciples are gutted. Jesus is telling them things hard to process. He said He wouldn’t leave them as orphans, but still, they are upset. Jesus knows worse things are coming. Life is going to go upside-down. It’s going to look completely out of control. Jesus is an encourager, and He will encourage His disciples with the Holy Spirit and with the truth.

It is the last night of Jesus’ life. Rather than being depressed or anxious He is talking to His disciples about how things are going to continue. He will continue to work in the world, but it’s in a new way. The world won’t see Him directly, but they will see Him in His disciples.

For this to happen they need help. And Jesus has help all arranged, the fulfilment of the Father’s promise.