The Ever Faithful God
Last week we looked at three scenarios that the Christian will inevitably find himself in, sooner or later. First, that of being anxious, second that of needing direction in which way to go, and thirdly fear about getting old. We looked at the scriptures, the mind of God, to find wisdom from the infinite One how best to navigate through these challenging dilemas. We found three unshakable pieces of bedrock from God's word, to strengthen our faith in our God's promises, that He has covenanted to keep. This week, I would like to conclude with three more.
As we embark on looking at three more challenges in our walk, English Puritan Thomas Watson says, “Mercy makes the promise, and truth performs it. “He is abundant in truth” (Exo. 34:6). That is, if God has made a promise of mercy to His people, He will be so far from coming short of His word, that He will be better than His word. God often does more than He has said, never less.”
Do you fear about being sick? Maybe the covid virus? Jesus healed many people of this type of disease and worse, so did the apostles some 2000 years ago. It was His will to do those healings then, it may or may not be now. But His word does say, in Psalm 34:19, “That many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver us out of them all." All, meaning, no exceptions. Whether it is now or in the future, we do not know, but it will happen. But blessed are you who are not sick with an eternal sickness, for the great Physician did not come for those who were well, but for those who were sick (Luke5:31). We pray for a cure, a healing, a cordial to make us well. In Luke 18:1, Jesus says, "We should at all times pray and not to lose heart."
Do you fear about making shipwreck of the faith? If the apostle Paul was confident about anything, he was confident about this statement in Philippians 1:6, "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ." The author of Hebrews said, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." In Romans 8 we see that once a person is justified by faith, he can not be unjustified. For the Judge of the universe has declared him righteous, and no one can over turn His decision.
Finally, maybe the greatest of all fears, are you afraid of dying? This was what Paul said he preferred, 2 Cor. 5:8, "rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." Is there no place like home? And we will have a house (body) not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1). Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for us, so that where He is, we would be also (John 14:3). We lost a paradise by sin, we have gained a heaven by a cross.
Merry Christmas! The Word became flesh, this was not done by the change of one nature into another, Christ remained what He was, and became what He was not.
Elder Randy Slak