Not Orphans

Children without parents are called “orphans”. Its root word in Greek,orphanós, means “to wander in obscurity and darkness”. Apart from the physical aspect, an orphan’s condition can be depicted as having no sense of belonging, guidance and security. In John 14, Jesus applied this word to a group of disciples without their master—His disciples. Having spent three years of ministry with them, He knew that when He leaves, they would feel abandoned. He knew that His disciples would not live in the same way again. The disciples would certainly have personal battles against their old sinful nature as they surrender the full control of their lives to God. Ultimately, Jesus was sending them into the battlefield, into the world that hated Him first. But amidst all these, Jesus’ promise was: "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18)

Orphans have a deep need for companionship. The world has always had a craving to belong and people would go to great lengths to satisfy that innate desire. Still, we can be in a great crowd of people, or even be among people we know intimately, but never belong.

Jesus assured the disciples that they are not orphans; that they do belong, and that is because of their new identity."He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him" (John 14:21,23). A child of God belongs to the Triune God. He is a fellow heir with Christ (Romans 8:15).

Secondly, an orphan does not have a person in his life to guide him. A life without correct guidance is a life devoid of its right purpose.

People would do anything to find a “purpose” in their lives. Many are bent to listen to the guidance of the world, which is commonly grounded on materialism and self-centeredness. Jesus, however, made it clear that a child of God has purpose: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:12-14)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus only reached a handful of people. But He left His disciples with a great purpose of doing greater things than He did as they “go and make disciples of all nations.” As committed followers of Jesus, we have the privilege to proclaim and demonstrate His love to the whole world.

However, we may need to make a careful distinction between signs and works. Signs in the Book of John pointed to the Deity of Jesus. On the other hand, good works are what God intended for His children to do. We are to do good works, not perform signs, to the glory of the Father. It is God who appoints these works to us, and it is our privilege to obey Him, whatever it is, wherever He leads.

“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” Jesus gives us this guarantee: if we ask anything in His name, that is, to ask for what is in agreement to His will and what He wants accomplished, He will surely do it. We do not need to worry about resources. That’s God’s business.

Furthermore, Jesus promised us, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) That Helper is the Holy Spirit, the Parakletos, the One who comes alongside of us. The Holy Spirit is God. He indwells all Christians. He will be with us and will equip us for our mission. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

Thirdly, orphans have no sense of security. Let’s listen to what Jesus says about a believer’s security: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:16,19) A child of God has security because Jesus lives! We don’t have to be afraid of death. Jesus has conquered the grave! Because He lives, we, too, will live. Our security is in the Holy Spirit, who is in us forever. He will remind us of this truth at all times (John 14:26).

Real security allows a person to stand till the end. “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him,” said Job in his distress, and yet there are Christians who have fallen. They are those who did not hold fast to the object of their faith and security. Job held on. What enables a person to give his life in exchange for the very people who are trying to harm him? How does one lay down his life for the very people who are trying to take it? Acts 7:59 records what Stephen said in the face of death:“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Where do you get that kind of power? That power is available to every Christian whose security lies in Jesus.

Friend, if you are a child of God, you are not an orphan, so don’t act like one and don’t think like one. If you belong to Jesus, you are never alone. But the question is, do you belong to Him? Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone? Do you believe that He is who He says He is and that He died for you? Do you have a relationship with the One who will never leave you alone? Accept His free gift of love today. All it takes is a prayer from your heart.