Security in Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 9:16 (ESV)

On that day the Lord their God will save them,

    as the flock of his people;

for like the jewels of a crown

    they shall shine on his land.

On April 12, 1999, Ivers Sims was operating a heavy lift crane on top of the high-rise Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill in Atlanta. The mill was being renovated into apartment lofts. Workmen were shoveling gravel and tarpaper into a skidpan that Sims would lift with his crane and empty into a dumpster.

Shortly after lunchtime, Sims noticed smoke billowing out of a hole in the tarpaper. He watched as the workmen picked up hoses to battle the flames. The smoke got worse. After a few minutes, Sims saw the men were trying to get the hose down the stairwell. Just as the last of them disappeared, he heard a sudden "whooosh."

Flames boiled through the roof. Sims keyed his radio: "Y'all got a fire on top of the building."

There was no answer. Sims decided to abandon the crane, but when he looked down, he saw his tower enveloped in flames. He was trapped.

Sims went to his knees and prayed. Several long minutes later, he looked up and approaching was a rescue helicopter. Fireman Matt Mosely was lowered from a hoist and climbed on to the crane. He attached a rescue harness on Sims and clutching the crane operator tightly, the two men were lifted to safety.

Our only security in this world is from above. It is only when we look to the Lord that we will be saved. Is your security found in Jesus Christ?

Dear Lord, thank the that no matter what happens to us in this world, we can find eternal salvation in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Where can one find rest?

Matthew 11:28  (NIV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

They had come in droves. Their purpose: to worship God. A Christian band was leading the way. With three fabulous records and with most songs written as a prayer to God, Starfield has touched the heart of millions of youth. The youngsters were excited. They were jumping up and down, hands stretched out in adoration towards the One that had sacrificed His life for them. They had no idea what would happen next.

Suddenly, the floor in front of the stage of that church in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, started to ripple, and before anyone realized it, the floor caved in. The gap left in the floor measure 25' x 25'! Pews, along with the worshipers who had occupied them, fell into the void, to find themselves interwoven in a mess of broken water pipes and spraying water.

More than forty people ended up in that unfinished basement that night, all of them uninvited. Some were dazed, some were hurt, and all were filled with panic. The rest of the building quickly emptied. Only a few stayed behind to help those who were hurt. Tim and Jon Neufeld, members of Starfield, didn't hesitate to jump into the hole in front of them to assist those in need. Youth pastors also joined the ranks to assist wherever help was needed. Miraculously, though several received serious injuries, no one was killed.

Security is but an illusion of this world. If church floors can cave in, if planes can crush you into oblivion, if school shootings can occur, if drunk drivers may mistake you for a road and drive onto you, if hospitals think you don't need all of your organs, if your gas begins to leak at home, then anything can occur!

Families are not what they used to be! Divorce is rampant. Kids are either being ignored, abused, or neglected, and disrespect reigns in our homes. Some, if not most, of our churches have turned into lukewarm social clubs, where money is stressed, but people's needs are being ignored. Where can one find true love?

A sign of the times?

Absolutely: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold… then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again." (Matt 24:12, 21 NIV)

Where can one find security?

Only in God's promises: "Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them." (Ps 119:140 NIV)

And this is what He promises you: "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:20 NIV)

"I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:2-3 NIV)

Not only did Jesus promise to be with us throughout our turbulent times, He also guarantees us that He will be preparing a safe place for us, and that He will come back for us! And this place is a place where sorrow and insecurities are unknown! "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev 21:4 NIV)

The best part is, God keeps all of His promises! These promises are assured! No wonder we are encouraged to stand firm! We know the outcome no matter what happens: "He who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matt 24:13 NIV)

In the meantime we can find peace and rest in Jesus: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28 NIV)

Insecurities are here to stay, temporarily anyway. But it will all change when Jesus comes back for us! What great news to share with those who have difficulties falling asleep!

Dear Lord, we thank You that we can rest in You. As we look around us and see all that is going on help us put our complete trust in You and rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thougths About World Series Game 7

Jude 1:24 (NIV)

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

As I sit here and watching game 7 between the Giants and the Royals wishing that it was the Tigers playing the Giants. But as history has it they went down early in the playoffs and didn’t make it to the World Series. As a true Tiger fan says “There is always next year.”  As much as I love to cheer for my teams it is great to know that my eternal destiny isn’t determined by my team winning or losing.

In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was brought in to preserve the lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the ninth inning, his errant throw opened the gates to a 2-run rally. The Yankees lost the game and the World Series.

In the 2009 Super Bowl, just seconds before halftime, Kurt Warner threw an interception that was returned 100 yards for a Steelers touchdown. The Cardinals lost the game by four points.

Both Rivera and Warner are strong Christians. Both would tell us that those physical miscues, though costly, will have nothing to do with their eternal destiny.

What about spiritual miscues, that is, our sins? What do they have to do with our eternal destiny?

Rom. 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, not even one.” Rom. 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” Psalm 5:4-5 indicates that sin, in any form, cannot dwell in the presence of God.

So we’re in trouble, unless somehow our sins can be deleted. I Tim. 1:15 says the very reason God sent Jesus to earth was to save sinners! Praise God above!

The Bible says that if we trust Jesus as our Sin-bearer, He will “present us faultless” before the presence of God. We’ll be faultless in the presence of a holy God. What a humbling thought.

Dear Lord, thank You that our eternal destination doesn't is not decided on whether our team wins or loses. Thank You for forgiving us of our sins. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Simply Because the Rope Broke!

John 8:31-32 (New International Version)

 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Sir Edward Whymper was determined to be the first one to reach the summit of The Matterhorn with his party of seven. It was July 14, 1865, and this was his eighth attempt. But 8 was his lucky number. Everything should go well.

Relying heavily on ropes for security, Sir Edward and his team made their ascent on that famous Swiss mountain, and their perseverance paid off. Before the day was over, they stood on the top of the mighty Matterhorn. He had done it! He had made it to the top!

It wasn't until the descent that disaster struck. One member of the party slipped off the mountain and tumbled into the valley below. Because all seven climbers were attached together via a rope, the momentum of his fall pulled another three members of the party off the mountain, and all four fell to their death.

Why didn't the accident pull Sir Edward and the other two climbers over the edge as well?

Simply because the rope broke!

Funny, isn't it. Sir Edward was relying on a solid rope. However, if it hadn't broken, his "security" would have resulted in his death!

This reminds me of human belief systems. We grow up with them, we rely on them, but they aren't always reliable!

Researchers have estimated that about 85% to 90% of our brain activity occurs in our subconscious mind, which is part of our soul. Since our subconscious minds shape every facet of who we are, including our actions, our reactions, our habits, and our personality, it impacts heavily upon our decisions. Basically, it becomes the center of our belief systems.

As information from our daily lives filters into our subconscious minds, mental images are created. These mental images are broad underlying observations of how we assume things around us really are. Whether true or false, they become our version of reality.

Remember what happened in Eden? Our soul took the upper hand over our spirit and we no longer were depended on God. Since then we have become susceptible to these negative strongholds of the mind.

Because of their destructive power over us, Satan will certainly encourage such negative fortresses in the mind, keeping them strong through deception, one of his favorite weapons!

But then again, we do know that he is full of lies and it doesn't surprise us how he tries to turn everything to his advantage, as his goal is our very destruction.

There is hope, through the One who can truly set us free.

Dear Lord we thank You for setting us free. We Thank You for the gift of life that You gave to each one of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen