Travel Light

We all have traveled from one place to another, and when it comes to travel, there is a funny, often repeated belief that women carry more luggage than men. I am not sure about that. What I do know is that we all need to feel relaxed, have good food or snacks, wear comfortable clothes, and have good music or books to kill time, depending on how long the journey will last. In John 14 Jesus reminds us how much He loves us.

It was time for Him to die on Calvary, and He knew how sad and uncertain His disciples felt. They loved Him, and He loved them. He reassured them that He was going to prepare a place for them, and He promised He would come back to take them to a wonderful place where they would live with Him. In fact, He would be preparing places specifically for them to live for eternity. It is never a good feeling to separate from loved ones; the moment is often bittersweet. It was not easy for Jesus to leave His followers, but it was time for Him to do what He needed to for our salvation. He comforted them by saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (verse 1, NIV). The disciples just needed to believe Him and continue following Him. Jesus promised that if they knew Him, they would know the Father (see verse 7). Though we have lost loved ones, let us not be troubled but believe that Jesus is coming and will restore what we have lost when the dead in Christ are raised.

He left us with the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Guide whenever we feel troubled. I love the hymn “Jordan’s Stormy Banks,” especially the chorus: We will rest in the fair and happy land, by and by Just across on the evergreen shore.

Sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, by and by, And dwell with Jesus evermore.* In the meantime, my friends, let us travel light.

Jesus has our backs, and soon He will come and take us home where we will live in the mansions He has prepared for us—forevermore.

Nokukhanya Ncube

* Samuel Stennett, “Jordan’s Stormy Banks” (1908).