"Be Of Good Cheer."

by Leamy, A. D. | Category: General | Feb 1944

The days in which we are living are acknowledged by all to be dark and trying, and the need for words of cheer is keenly felt. This need has perhaps found expression in a parting salutation now so frequently heard, "Cheerio, goodbye! " which, it is suggested, being interpreted, actually means-" Be of good cheer; God bless you," although few may realise the full significance of the words they use. It is, however, very interesting and instructive to trace the expression "Be of good cheer" through the New Testament, used first by the Lord Himself and subsequently by His disciples, and to note that a reason is always given for the exhortation, "Be of good cheer." Matthew 9.1-8 records the story of the man sick of the palsy, and read together with the corresponding accounts in Mark and Luke, the difficulties experienced in bringing the man into the presence of the Lord, and the anxiety of the four on his behalf, shared no doubt by the man himself, can be better imagined than described. The Lord fully appreciated all that had been done and rec6gnised that it was the outcome of faith in Himself, and He in His infinite grace dealt with the greatest need first, when He said to the sick man-" Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven." No words could bring more cheer to a sin-burdened soul than these, and the reader is asked "Have you heard these words from the only One who has power to forgive sins, even the Lord Jesus Christ"? If you have, then you can join ah the redeemed in singing:

"Why should His people hen be sad?Jesus the mighty Saviour lives,

None have such reason to be gladTo them eternal life He gives

As those redeemed to God.The purchase of His blood."

That the Lord also had power to deal with the physical need was evidenced by His later words-" Take up thy bed, and go unto thy house," and also on the next occasion when He used the same phrase, "Be of good cheer," (see verse 22 of the same chapter) to the woman who had touched the hem of His garment, "thy faith hath made thee whole." We know that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever," and that He said, "All authority bath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth," and if God's people had but such faith as this frail woman, would we not hear more often of divine healings ? Do we not merit the Lord's rebuke to His disciples, -" Oh, ye of little faith " ? -

In Matthew 14.22, 23, a wonderful incident is recorded, which graphically illustrates the believer's passage over life's troubled sea. The Lord is seen calmly walking on the waves which the disciples fear will overwhelm them, and above the noise of the storm His voice reaches them-" Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid." The action of Peter in first stepping out in faith, and subsequently failing, is so faithful to life's experience, for "As in water face answereth to face, So the heart of man to man" (Proverbs 27.19), that the Lord's rebuke to him -should come home with power to each one of us, "Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt" ?

"Disciples all ! The Lord Himself has set us

The course by which we voyage to our home-;

Here lies our confidence whate'er beset us,

We sail with One, whose power must overcome."

Nevertheless, the Lord does not promise His disciples immunity from trial and suffering; quite the reverse in fact, as see Matthew 5.11 10.16-36, and kindred scriptures, and He sums up the position in John 16. 33 - " In the world ye have tribulation"; but then He adds, "But, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." All the implications of these words, as - applying to themselves, were perhaps not clear to the disciples at the time, but as instructed by the Holy Spirit later John says in his first Epistle 5.4-" This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God"? and it is significant that the record of the incident in Matthew 14. closes with the words- "And they that were in the boat w6rshipped Him saying, Of a truth, Thou art the Son of God," and without doubt John was one of these.

But it was not only to His disciples who, accompanied Him in - the days of His flesh that the Lord spake these words of cheer. Acts 23.11 records that the same words were spoken by the risen Lord to His servant Paul-" Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning Me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome" and there can be no question that through the centuries, many of the Lord's servants, who have gone forth with the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, have thus been encouraged by Him who said, "Co ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations ... and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world "(Matthew 28.19, 20).

The apostle Paul followed closely in his Master's footsteps and in Acts 27. he uses the same words of cheer, when he and the company with him were threatened with shipwreck, "I exhort you to be of good cheer ... for there stood by me this night, an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve, saying-Fear not, Paul; God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me," and verse 86 says-" Then were they all of good cheer."

It is surely in view of such experiences as these that the apostle says in 2 Corinthians 1.8, 4-" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to eomf6rt them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

Leamy, A. D. | Feb 1944
General