98. Ныне от всех бед освобождаешься

It happens that people on various occasions say: “now you are freed from all troubles.” This is said to someone who was in captivity, but leaves it. Although this word is spoken to people living in this world, it is not entirely appropriate for them. It is impossible for a person living in this world to free himself from all troubles. It happens that he is freed from one trouble, and another one meets him. Just as sailors always expect bad weather and storms, so those who live in this world must always expect trouble and misfortune. One misfortune has passed, then unexpectedly another comes - the world cannot exist without it. Therefore, this word: “now you are freed from all troubles” befits only a faithful and pious person who is at the point of his death. He is then truly freed from all troubles. Beloved Christian, ending this very poor life, you are now freed from all troubles. You were born to die; now you are dying to live. You were born into troubles and sorrows - now you end your life, and your troubles and sorrows end. You were in many different troubles and misfortunes - now you will no longer see them. You cried and were sick - now this will no longer happen to you. You suffered mental and physical illness - now you will no longer feel it. You endured boredom and sorrow - now it will no longer bother you. You endured every lack and cramped space - now it is already retreating from you. You fought, not without sorrow and labor, against the flesh with passions and lusts - now it will no longer bother you. You endured the attack of the devil and his evil spirits and fought against them - now they will leave you. You suffered insult and anger from evil people - now they will no longer offend you and cause harm. You worked and did not have true peace - now you will be in true peace. You were afraid of everything mortal and harmful - now you will be without fear and in safety. You demanded food, drink and clothing for your weak body - now you will no longer demand it. You reluctantly saw the temptations of this world - now you won’t see it anymore. You reluctantly heard the ungodly and destructive words of self-willed people - now you won’t hear them anymore. You endured the reproach and blasphemy of your enemies - now you will no longer have this. You are separated from your father and mother, but you go to God, the Eternal Father. You leave both your friends and brothers, but the Angels and the faces of saints will be your friends. You will not see this sun, but Christ the Lord, the Righteous Sun, will shine for you, Who died for you and gave you life by His death. You leave this world, but in peace you leave all troubles and misfortunes, and you will enter the kingdom of God. You end a temporary life, but you begin an eternal and blissful one. You may temporarily taste the sorrows of mortal life, but you will taste the sweetness of eternal life. You will not see night and day, but day will always and unceasingly shine for you. Your body, like dust, is given over to dust, but by the voice of the Son of God it will awaken and rise, and the corruptible will put on incorruptibility, and the mortal will put on immortality, and the spiritual will put on the spiritual, and the weak will rise in power, and the inglorious will rise in glory. “Thanks be to God, who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor. 15:57). “Blessed is the path where you will go, O soul, for a place of rest has been prepared for you.” There they went, and came, and all the saints, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, reverends and all those who have pleased God through faith from time immemorial rest in peace there. There you go too, where all the saints rest. You will see, and your heart will rejoice, and “no one will take your joy” (John 16:22) from you. You will see the glory of God, and your heart will rejoice. You will see Christ, the Son of God, who suffered and died for you; you will see in glory, and your heart will rejoice. You will see the faces of the Angels and Archangels, and the chosen ones of God, and your heart will rejoice. You will see the beautiful heavenly Jerusalem, and its indescribable beauty, and your heart will rejoice. You will see the house of the Heavenly Father and His many abodes, and your heart will rejoice there, incomparably better and more beautiful than you see here, and your heart will rejoice, which “eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). your heart will rejoice. You will see the wondrous, the glorious and the terrible, which is without number, and your heart will rejoice. Will you say: “Am I unworthy of the heavenly Kingdom?” Answer: truly, none of the people is worthy of it. But Christ our Lord is worthy, Who at the price of His priceless Blood earned it for us. Our dignity depends on His dignity. With His dignity He made us, the unworthy, worthy, and with His grace the Good and man-loving Heavenly Father, according to His ineffable mercy, honors us. He, Father, opens the doors of His kingdom to all the faithful, as well as to you, and gives the inheritance of eternal life. Will you say, “Am I a sinner?” Answer: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). This is our justification, “He became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). “Have I committed many sins?” Answer: “When sin abounded, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20). Many sins are cleansed through the multitude of God's generosity. “Am I afraid of judgment?” Christ answers: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life, and will not come into judgment, but will pass from death to life” (John 5:24) “Am I afraid to perish?” The psalmist answers: “The God of our salvation, our God is God who saves” (Ps. 67:20–21). “Am I afraid of hell and eternal torment?” Answer: Christ the Lord redeemed us from him by death and His blood. And the Church sings: “Deliver us from the belly of hell.” “How can I have fun with the saints, who have shone in so many virtues?” Answer: the saints were also saved by the grace of Christ. You pray with the thief: “Remember me, Lord, when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42). The whole Church brings such an exclamation to Him. “Be of good courage, and let your heart be strong” (Ps. 30:25). The Lord is your Helper, the Lord is your Intercessor, the Lord is your Defender, the Lord is your Redeemer, the Lord is your Deliverer. The Lord is your Savior, the One who loved you and gave Himself for you, and suffered and died for you, defeated all our enemies, He will save you with His omnipotent hand. The angels of God are your companions. The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Protector of my life. Who am I afraid of? * (Ps. 26:1). “Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has done good to you, for He has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I will be pleasing to the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 115:7–8). “For we know that although our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God in heaven, a house not made with hands, eternal” (2 Cor. 5:1). Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: