A Canopy of Protection

If we could see the big picture instead of the tiny snapshot-through-a-window that we think we see, I wonder how much we'd realize we take for granted. I'm guessing we would begin a seemingly never-ending list. There's so much we could list with just considering the tangible alone, and that the more we find to make our lives and daily tasks easier, the more there would be to list. But, of course, there's so much more besides, things that are even more important than the things we can see and touch.

The Lord's protection of His children would rank high on such a list. Oh, we trust in Him for it all the time when we know there's danger around us; indeed, we pray for it. But how often does He supply it and we don't even realize it because we aren't even aware of the danger that had surrounded us? Or how often do we thank Him because of what might have been?

This past Wednesday was a wonderful reminder of how precious it is to have such an One looking after us. My dad had asked my brother to keep our younger siblings occupied so he could concentrate. Since they were already in my room, Kevin decided it would be a good idea to keep them in there (and it would have been if it weren't for the clean laundry in piles to put away, the ironing board in the middle of the room, and some miscellaneous things taking up floor space).

So my 3 siblings are in there with me, I'm taking a moment to relax with a book, and Kev is annoying me. Soon a faux tug-of-war ensued between he and I, but when I eventually let go, his footing wasn't sound, and he's thrown off balance. In the very next instant, glass from the ceiling light fixture is raining down into every corner in the room, in all shapes and sizes, including the entryway that should have been shielded by an outcropping wall.

Yet none of us were hurt. Despite the fact our younger sister was standing under the light and glass fell all around her, or that both little ones looked up when they heard the crash. Nor Kev even though evidence shows a good amount showered toward him. Nor myself.

Almost a week later, I'm still cleaning up shards of glass that serve as a reminder of just how bad things could have been. And to think that this is just one instance when it was obvious the Lord was covering us. How else could one explain that, despite glass shattering everywhere, no one in the room was hurt, neither was there any trace of glass found on us? It would be pointless to try finding another explanation.

Psalm 145 is a beautiful psalm that speaks of God's goodness, power, & mercy, and I can't think of a better way to conclude than meditating on a few of the treasures found in the passage.

I will extol thee, my God, O king;

and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee;

and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;

and his greatness is unsearchable.

I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty,

and of thy wondrous works.

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion;

slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The LORD is good to all:

and his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD;

and thy saints shall bless thee.

The LORD upholdeth all that fall,

and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

and holy in all his works.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:

he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Psalm 145:1-3, 5, 8-10, 14, 17-19

The Resurrection and the Life

We read a beautiful promise in John 11:25-26. While the passage it is in is of Mary and Martha's grief over their brother's death, Jesus' response addressed the physical issue at hand and the spiritual life of those who believe in Him. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

We can claim that promise because of what we commemorate today: Jesus' resurrection. What a wondrous thought that God would provide our salvation through Himself! He had to come to earth as a man (one hundred percent man, yet still one hundred percent God!) to provide that Way, the only Way. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Paying the price for our sins came at a high cost: He had to give His own life for us on the cross. A painful death, the death of a criminal with the shameful sentence of capital punishment. Not only that, but because my holy God can't look upon sin, and because Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, God the Father had to turn His back upon God the Son until it was finished by Jesus' death. Then Jesus was buried. For 3 days and 3 nights He was in the sealed tomb, and by the time Mary Magdalene came with spices at the dawn of 4th morning, He had risen just as He had said. Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead was the completion of His work on the cross, and by it He conquered death and hell.

Because of Jesus' triumph, those who place their personal, permanent trust in Him may say, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:55, 57) Death has no sting, the grave has no victory over us because Jesus has redeemed and justified our lives, and even when our lives on earth shall end, we shall be with Him for the rest of eternity. Our Redeemer lives, and so shall we. And that's a promise for forever.

Happy Resurrection Day!