“…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20 – KJV).

Here, Jesus is giving His disciples “The Great Commission” (from vs.19). As His followers, they were to continue the great work that He himself had begun. But Jesus knew the beginning from the end: He knew that in carrying out His instructions, His followers would encounter difficulty and in some cases even death (remember Stephen?). He wanted to assure them that through it all, they would NOT be alone.

When we look at the phrase “even unto the end of the world”, two possibilities stand out:

1. If you travel continuously by sea or air, you can never arrive at the end of the world because a circle (the globe) has no ending. So in this possibility, Jesus is telling His disciples that He would be with them forever, whether it is them personally or the movement of Christianity.
   
2. In both the old and new testaments (Isaiah 65:17 & Revelation 21:1) we are told that this earth that we know will one day be destroyed and recreated. If we believe that then the second possibility comes to mind: Jesus is telling His disciples that He will forever be their Companion and Guide, even unto the day when all that they know comes to an end.

However you choose to look at it, God is making it clear to us that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). So even at this serious and trying time, there is no need to fear! This is but a moment in time to Him that exists in eternity. As children of God, He has promised to bear our burdens (Psalms 55:22). This doesn’t mean that we won’t have issues, problems or challenges. What it does mean is, because God is our present help in trouble, we need not fear (Psalms 46: 1, 2).

So my friends; brothers and sisters; boys and girls: You can rest, assured in the promise from the mouth of God Himself, knowing that He is with us and has promised to be until all this life’s trials are over. May God continue to bless you, your family and loved ones and keep you safe during this temporary crisis.

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