This Is The Way

For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23

The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned. NOT ONE PERSON has, or ever will be 100% sin free. Our modern world doesn’t understand sin. Yes, is is all the evil and immoral things we can think of. That’s easy. But it’s more than that. The word in Greek means to miss the mark. It’s an archery term. That widens the field a bit, yes? In other words we all miss the mark. It may be as simple as an unkind thought or word, a little white lie. No biggie you say? From our view of layered sinfulness, it would seem so. However, God is perfectly Holy, and only a perfectly sin-free, never missing the bullseye person could pay the price for all mankind’s sin–death, eternal separation from God. Jesus is the Man. He paid the price of our admission–His own death.

Picture in your mind that you are walking along a road that comes to a wide, deep ravine. On the far side is a beautiful, glittering city of light with a Being that is indistinct but radiating goodness, holiness, kindness. You would love to go there, to see this marvelous place, to be with this Being, but the ravine is too wide. There is no way across. But wait. In the middle of the ravine stands a Cross. The Cross Jesus died on. He is standing there beside this cross. His hand is extended. He says to you, follow Me. I will show you how to bridge this gap. The way across is to put your hand in Jesus’. Trust Him to carry you across.

What does that mean? How do I do that? Believe: that Jesus died, was buried, and is risen. Believe that you are imperfect, a sinner; that is called repentance, we have changed our minds, we cannot earn acceptance, Jesus loves and invites us to heaven just as we are. Ask: Jesus, please forgive me, save me, take me to Your Father. Walk: let Jesus take your hand and walk with you through your days on earth. Learn of Him, follow Him, talk with Him; don’t trust your own understanding, but seek Jesus through prayer and the Bible to know His ways. Know that when your days on this earth are done you will live in that glorious city forever.

The angels, and the rest of God’s people rejoice with you when you join the family of God. Hallelujah!

Shelter In Place

Psalm 91, NLT:

 

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.   This I declare about the LORD : He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.   He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,  no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.   For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.  I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

 

This well-known and beloved Psalm is particularly appropriate for the times in which we live. My goodness, just in the first month and a half of 2020 we have seen “signs of the times” propelling us forward at an dizzying pace.

 

Consider:

 

• bizarre and frequent weather events
• massive wildfires and then floods in Australia
• President Trump’s release of the Deal of the Century (which divides the land of Israel into two potential states, land that God claims as His own all of it–not part and parcel)
• Israel poised for a third election in a couple of weeks (many believe this will fail as well and lead to a 4th election)
• American interests attacked in Iraq and terrorists killed
• a massive convergence of two bomb cyclones set to wreak havoc in Ireland, the UK, and Wales over the weekend
• devastating locust plagues over much of Africa
• volcanic eruptions and earthquakes increasing in frequency all around the world
• United States politics are utterly divided with no middle ground,  corruption and moral decadence at an all time high
• Attempted impeachment of President Trump
• Vladamir Putin setting himself up for lifetime dictatorship
• USMCA is passed
• DOW hits all time high
• geopolitical/social unrest around the world

And this doesn’t even touch the invasion and control/influence of technology and AI over our lives. Then, there’s coronavirus . . . . You get the picture.

But. But God. Psalm 91 reminds us, so beautifully, that if we are connected to, live with, remain in fellowship with Him, we have a host of protections–and protectors. Not that God doesn’t protect us even when we are out of sync with Him, but the promises of this Psalm particularly apply to those making an active effort to live with Him, dwell the Psalmist says. And if we live with Him, we rest under the shadow of His wings. Think about that. To be at home, resting. Not worrying. Not fearful. Not anxious. Restful.

 

Ok, so I know this is easier said than done. And even when we aren’t always delivered or protected in the way we want, God is still with us in the trouble. Remember, Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. God didn’t protect him from that happening; rather He protected an entire nation, the very heritage of Israel through Joseph’s trouble! For that matter, Jesus wasn’t protected on the Cross either. In all things we can trust that God knows what He is doing. Yes, there will be times of miraculous deliverance and divine protection. And sometimes not. Not in the way we can identify at the time anyway. So, in the end, is God faithful or isn’t He? Can we trust him, like the three Israeli teens threatened with the furnace of fire who said, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Dan. 3:17-18, NASB)–one of my favorite lines in all Scripture.

 

After all, what is the worse that can happen? We die and are immediately in the arms of Jesus. And if we have to suffer on the way there, then I like to believe that He will give us a glimpse of Heaven along the way as He did Stephen when he was being stoned.

 

Be encouraged, dear ones, soak in the promises of this Psalm. Grab them for yourself and those you know who believe in Jesus. Trust God with the outcome. Faithful is He Who leaves us His Word.