I’m sure many of you have heard it said in the media that these are “uncertain times”. Would you agree? Are the times any more uncertain right now than they’ve always been? Or, to the opposite, as followers of Christ are these actually “certain” times?
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
What are some things in your life that you build your hope on, apart from Christ? Take some time to consider these and offer them over to God.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name
The sweetest frame. The enticing thing. The easy road. The quick fix. Psalm 146:3-5 says, “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” In whom do you trust?
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
Sometimes in our darkest times we feel like God is nowhere to be found. But, remember, the darkness only seems to hide His face. It doesn’t actually obscure it. “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:4-5 (NLT). In the darkest of times in your life when you feel like His face can’t be found, rest in the unchanging nature of who God is, and the sacrifice Christ made once and for all that can’t be undone.
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
In the Jewish temple, the “veil” was a curtain that separated the people from the Holy of Holies, which was where the presence of God resided. At the death of Christ, the veil was miraculously torn, signifying that a barrier no longer existed between God and man. Christ’s death broke that barrier. My anchor holds within the veil. My security lies not apart or separated from the presence of God, but is tied directly to His presence with me made possible through Christ.
When He shall come with trumpet sound
O may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne
Isaiah 61:10 says “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness”. At the end of our life, there’s no way that our actions on this Earth will be “enough” to satisfy the debt of our sin. But, like last week’s devotional on Carbon Ribs, Christ’s death has given us a seat at the King’s table, crippled though we may be. We sit as a child of God, dressed in the righteous robes of the Son of the King. That’s our only hope! Take a moment to thank Him for this amazing gift.
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all
Isaiah 28:15-16 says, “For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception. Therefore thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” This image from Isaiah, previously mentioned by David in the Psalms, is referred to many times in the New Testament, including by Jesus himself, regarding His coming and fulfilling the prophecy of a Savior for the people. A cornerstone is defined as the first stone set in the construction of a building, the stone by which all other stones will be set. The quality of the cornerstone determines the strength of the whole structure, if it will stand. The position of the cornerstone determines if the building will be straight and true. The weaker stones like us can rest our weight upon Him and know we will be held secure. No matter how much the storm can rage around us, we can trust that the structure of our lives will remain secure with Christ as its foundation. “Lord of all” truly means Lord of ALL!
These are not uncertain times! For followers of Christ, we know that our foundation is firmly set. We don’t put our trust in “princes, in mortal man in whom there is no salvation”. Rather, we live in the certainty that our hope is secure in Christ. Romans 8:38-39 sums it up…
For I am convinced (certain) that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Live with certainty in your Savior this week!
Until next time…
Jeremy