A Thanksgiving Reflection: No Doubt About God's Promises

The internet. Our generation, me included, seems to think that it is a necessity for life. And nowadays, it kind of is. It’s a source of quick information, but it's harder and harder to determine what is true and what isn’t.

A few short months ago I was laughing at the poor quality of AI videos popping up everywhere. Now I really have a hard time determining if it is even real or not.

And then there are the influencers. They draw people in with their magnetic personalities and invite people into their personal lives. It can feel like you know these people - they have allowed you into their lives - or have they? Recently I have noticed a trend of people making up stories about their own lives to garner views and comments on the short videos. The stories are completely false, but they say they are true so they can make money off of their fans’ sympathy.

I prefer to know if I am watching fiction or a biography. It makes a big difference. But people like to blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

God never does this. When He makes a statement, it is always true. In a very famous Bible verse, Jesus tells us that He IS the truth.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

In a world where people try to withhold truth or deceive for their own gain, we can trust God and His Word.

But sometimes we doubt. Even the disciples did. Imagine walking with Jesus, seeing His miracles, and hearing His teaching with our own ears, and still not understanding. That’s how it was with even his closest friends.

Jesus continued to reassure His disciples. And thankfully we have the assurance of those words written in the Bible. One time Jesus was telling His followers about His Kingdom:

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14:2

Jesus knew all about the Kingdom of Heaven and was telling about it. But it seems that they really did not believe it or understand, so He asked a rhetorical question. The gist was, “Why would I bother to tell you something that isn’t true?”

He was telling them the truth of where He was going after He ascended into Heaven. They had no idea that He would soon be leaving them. Their eyes were on this world, the current politics, and life on this earth.

Jesus was concerned with them setting their eyes on higher things. And I believe that is exactly what He still wants us to do.

If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

Jesus doesn’t waste time telling fairy tales. His Kingdom is real, and He’s there, preparing a place. For us. Is there anything to be more thankful for? This is what the Good News is all about.

Jesus came to earth to live with people, die for our sins, and give us the opportunity to be with Him forever. It is truly amazing, and some people really don’t believe that.

But if it weren’t true, WHY would He tell us that? Every prophecy about Jesus came true. He told about His death before it happened. He told about the resurrection before it happened. And He told about His Kingdom before any human could see it.

His disciples had a hard time believing it - at first. After Jesus resurrected, they still did not believe what He said. But soon, they did understand, saw Him and touched Him. They knew everything He said was accurate and trustworthy.

And their stories are written in the Bible - the stories of the ones who doubted Jesus, betrayed Jesus, denied Jesus, and died for Jesus. This is all for us to read so that we will believe as well, even though we didn’t see it happen with our own eyes.

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

This Thanksgiving, I want to praise God for His truthfulness. For accepting us into His Kingdom, and reassuring us of His faithful promises. We can believe every one of them.