Behold I am with you to the end of the age
Matthew 28:20 

Just when things had seemed to get better for the disciples, Jesus told them he was leaving again.
What?
They just got him back and now he’s going again?
What the heck Jesus?

They were understandably anxious.
How do we do this thing without you Jesus?
How are we supposed to make it without you here?
And Jesus responds with this verse from Matthew 28: I am with you until the end of the age.
That phrase is clunky in this time, but the Greek word that is used in Matthew’s Gospel is aion.
It means forever, eternity, and my personal favorite: perpetuity of time.
Even though things might be changing, Jesus says, I’m still with you.

This is how Matthew’s Gospel ends.
Really.
The whole thing ends with this promise.
Last words matter because they are what we remember most.
And Matthew wants the last thing you hear to be pure promise.
It’s important that this is the thing that sticks… because things get rough.
On man do things get rough.
And when we’re in dark days, when Jesus feels like he’s far away then the thing we remember first is what Jesus said last – I am with you until forever.
You’re not alone.
No matter what.
We sang a song last Sunday in worship and this verse brought it back to my mind.  
I’ve posted the lyrics below, but also take a listen.  
It’s this same promise in song form – so hear it today.  
Let it be the thing that sticks.  

Robbie Seay – Stay

Hope, is the call, that is ringing in my soul
But I can’t pretend that I see much light in front of me

I wait to find you here
Hope is thrown away, I can’t give up
I’ll wait to see you here, I have gone astray
But you will always stay beside me
And your rescue comes to find me
And you always stay

Love, is the seed that is buried
Underneath the soil of pain and grief
But it grows into the tree
That I’ll climb to see you here

Hope is thrown away, I can’t give up
I’ll wait to see you here, I have gone astray
But you will always stay beside me
And your path is straight before me
You will always stay
and you will always stay

Pride is the friend
who betrays me in the end
Stealing joy, as it goes, leaves me longing for a home

I’ll wait to find you here
Though I’m lost and afraid
I can’t give up
I’ll wait to find you here, I have gone astray
And I believe
I’ll sing until you’re here
Though I’m lost and afraid
I can’t give up
I’ll wait to find you here, I have gone astray
And you will always stay beside me
And your sun will rise above us
And your light will shine upon us
And your skies are clear above me
And you will always stay
You will always stay