One thing that 6 decades of living has taught me is that
there are no ‘sure things’ this side of Heaven. In 2006, I bought a house
in a time when real estate was increasing in value. When I sold it in 2011, the
value had fallen by 20%! I thought real
estate was an investment that would always return some profit. I learned a
lesson about investments. People
surprise us, too, don’t they? We build a friendship or even a marriage,
expecting a life-long relationship of mutual benefit. It is a shock when our ‘friend’
abandons us for another or we discover that we are with someone we really did
not know at all. The vagaries of life can cause us to become
fearful, can’t they? But …
If we are God’s children by faith, there is security for us that allows us to live with confidence.
In my ongoing exploration of Peter’s letters, this morning I
came to this passage. "For if God did not spare angels when
they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be
held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the
flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness,
and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning
them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the
ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the
filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day
after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and
heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials
and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their
punishment." (2 Peter 2:4-10, NIV) Peter points to two Old Testament stories as
examples of God’s sure promises. The flood of judgment came, but Noah obeyed
the Lord’s directions to build an ark and he was saved from loss! In the middle
of the conflagration that destroyed Sodom, the Lord sent angels to bring Lot
out to safety, answering the prayers of his uncle, Abraham. We can trust our
God to do what He says He will do.
The apparent randomness of life tries to convince us that we
must scramble to protect our own interests, best that we are able. The
temptation is to take whatever pleasure we can find today, to do whatever brings
us the most happiness now, reasoning – who knows if tomorrow will even
come? But, because of the Word and Jesus
– we know that eternity is assured and that our life is held in His hands!
Paul, at the end of his life, penned his second letter to Timothy
from death row. He had given himself to the service of the Lord, traveling
thousands of miles to preach in hundreds of cities. His life had not brought
riches or comfort. Many of the churches he planted turned against him. Yet, he knew a ‘sure thing.’ "And
of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is
why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard
what I have entrusted to him for that Day." (2 Timothy 1:11-12,
NIV) A few passages later, he sums it all up - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me,
but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8,
NIV)
What confidence! Where did he find it? In knowing God, by
faith. People failed him. Situations turned out differently than he thought they
should. His life was not ending with a parade down Jerusalem’s Main Street in his
honor. And yet, he is not ‘ashamed,’ nor
is he full of regret. He knows God and
knows that His promises are sure. Do you?
This Monday morning, take hope in the Lord. Anchor yourself in
Him, the only real ‘sure thing.’ Meditate
prayerfully in this passage of faith, then go live today confidently, held in
God’s hands in a chaotic world. "Since
we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s people, let us go right into
the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil
consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our
bodies have been washed with pure water. Without
wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be
trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to
outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together,
as some people do, but encourage and
warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is
drawing near." (Hebrews 10:21-25, NLT)
_________
(Zach Williams sings of our assurance, enjoy.)
When he told you
you’re not good enough
When he told you
you’re not right
When he told you
you’re not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you
you’re not worthy
When he told you
you’re not loved
When he told you
you’re not beautiful
That you’ll never be
enough
(Oh) Fear he is a liar
He will take your
breath stop you in your steps
Fear he is a liar
He will rob your rest
steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the
fire
'Cause fear he is a
liar
When he told you were
troubled
You’ll forever be
alone
When he told you you
should run away
You’ll never find a
home
When he told you you
were dirty
And you should be
ashamed
When he told you you
could be the one
That grace could never
change
Let Your fire fall and
cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall
Your love is all I feel
Let Your fire fall and
cast out all my fears
Let Your fire fall
Your love is all I feel
'Cause fear he is a
liar
Jason Ingram | Jonathan Smith | Zach Williams
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