“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah. Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.” – Psalm 68:19-20 {ESV}
What if it were only once? What if there was no subsequent commitment after God’s initial rescue of us? Could you imagine the overwhelming difficulty in which we would reside if God, after justifying us, did not shepherd and protect us? There is no doubt that the initial rescue of you from your sin was the single greatest act ever accomplished on your behalf – I mean, could anything be greater to realize than the reality that your Savior has brought you from death unto life? Yet it is true that, subsequent to the moment of your salvation, there have been so many additional occasions for you to be rescued by God that you have now lost count. Remember that…
He has healed you.
He has delivered you from opposition.
He has often sheltered you from the schemes of the devil.
He has given you enlightenment and wisdom which saved you from a dangerous choice of paths.
He refused to open doors that you pounded on and begged Him to open. You only saw later that what was on the other side would not have been good for you.
He has rescued you financially more than once. He met your needs yesterday.
He brought friends to you when you needed them.
He dealt with you mercifully concerning your sin when you full-well expected anger from Him.
He sustained you during your time of grief and answerless hurt.
He blew out your depression and melancholy when you had once been certain you would never be free.
He comforted you in your loneliness.
He smiled when He offered you a fresh start. You thought He would have done so with a begrudging scowl.
He soothed you after another mistreated you.
He spoke powerfully to you from His word when you had begun to worry if there would ever be an answer.
Yes, God’s “deliverances from death” are a portion of the ongoing delight for those who belong to Him. I’ve come to the point where I confidently expect those deliverances. In some way I have come to realize my dependence upon them. I answer what I can but sometimes I confess that I have no solutions. I act as faithfully as I should when I know what He requires but there are times when I cannot perform a deliverance of my own. I reason my way through life’s quandaries but I have seen more than once that my reason is insufficient.
So I wait for another one of His deliverances. He has yet to disappoint me.
When the Events of 9/11 captured all American’s attention, we saw Rescue efforts
that were underway to save those trapped in the rubble of World Trade Centers
and the Pentagon.
First Respnders were Firemen, Police, volunteers.
Some put on protective gear and carried what they needed to perform Rescue of
trapped people so they might be pulled to being Saved.
That is what being Saved is all about in the Christian faith. We are Rescued from
Sin and Death to being Saved into the Kingdom of the Savior Jesus Christ.
When Hurricanes, Tornadoes hit populated places we need to Rescue those
that are perishing in the ‘realaity of death’. physical death.
There is a Spiritual death those that are preaching the Gospel are Spiritual Rescuers
just like the First Responders of 9/11.
The Creator of the Universe, God needs us on his Rescue team to save those
that are lost.
Thank you so much for this encouraging reminder of all God does on our behalf ;)))))