Do you ever feel as though you are being hunted? Have you had someone who is looking to take you down? Are there people who want to destroy you? What have you done in response? Have you trusted the One who has your best at heart?
We have all likely felt as though there was someone who wanted to see us upended. There has been someone who wanted to see us fail. Perhaps we have even had someone who did all they could to bring us down or destroy us.
It is highly unlikely any of us have had someone out to kill us. Yet, it is not much consolation to think we are not being hunted down to be killed when we believe someone wants to cause us financial ruin. Anytime we feel as though someone is after us, constantly looking over our shoulder, we feel anxious. We worry and play the “what if” game, often thinking about the worst.
Jesus knew what was coming. He knew who they were after when they came to the garden. But notice what happened. When He asked who they wanted, they gave His name. When He told them He was who they were looking for, they fell to the ground. Why? The Greek word Jesus used means “I am.” We typically translate it as “I am he” in our English Bibles. Jesus’ response claimed that He was God. It is one of several “I am” statements He made in the gospels.
How does this affect us when we are being chased down or someone is seeking to bring us harm? We can take comfort in knowing we serve the One who has overcome death. We can find comfort knowing we have a reward for holding onto our faith. We may experience trouble in this life, but we can continue to look forward to an eternity of bliss. We know that all will fall down at His name sooner or later.
I pray we all find comfort in knowing we have an eternal reward. I pray we hold onto to our faith in Jesus. I pray each one of us reaches out to God when we feel we are being threatened. Find comfort in Jesus. Hold onto your faith. Look forward to your reward. Know Jesus for who He is.
John 18:4-6 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Marty Pressey 