195. Comfort in the Church
Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Most people can remember a time when they were comforted in their mother’s arms during a troubled time or in a sick bed. So the Lord uses this image to show us how He Himself comforts us. When God comforts in our sickness or in a time of trouble we sense a comfort and security unsurpassed.
Sin gets us into trouble in more than a few ways. All the trials and troubles we experience in life are always a result of sin, either from our own sin or from the sins of other people. The kind of comfort God gives goes directly to the source. He forgives the sin. He doesn’t always just take away the troubles, for we live in a troubled world; but He does take away the cause. We tend to focus on the symptoms and the outward feelings, but the Lord focuses on the cause and the source of our problems: He forgives sin and justifies the person. There is no greater comfort.
The Lord comforts us in “Jerusalem,” according to the promise. Jerusalem is the Church, the people of God gathered together in the name of Jesus. It may be a cliché, but clichés are clichés because they are true, but the answer truly is: “Go to Church!” In the church you shall be comforted. That sounds too easy and superficial, but it is true and effective for one reason: in the church you will hear the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness is the comfort we need. Forgiveness is like a loving mother wrapping her arms around us and we are comforted and secure. This comforting occurs when we hear the Word, receive absolution, partake of the Lord’s Supper and remember our Baptism. Thank God there is a place on earth to which we may go to find the comfort we need. Somewhere close enough to every individual is a small or large gathering of believers who may grant the needed comfort through the Gospel of forgiveness, life and salvation. If anyone anywhere in the world does not know another Christian he may ask God and He will lead him to the person or persons who can offer the comfort of God through the Gospel.
We who have heard the Gospel in the Church may remember the Word and go to God directly and through faith receive the comfort of God all alone by ourselves. God promises He will comfort, and He does.