Waves

I was sitting on the beach watching the waves come in.  Children and young adults were playing in the surf and enjoying the water.  The older crowd stood further back only dipping their toes in to cool off or were standing on the wet sand.  The waves though never stopped, there was never a moment when the waves took a break, they were relentless.  The only different was the size of the waves some were larger than others, but they don’t stop coming.  I couldn’t help but to look at the waves at the way life plays out in front of us.  Life comes in waves and they never stop.  Overtime you become stronger in the waves but eventually you just get tired of them all together and you’re ready to go home.   Life is like that and one of the reason I love scripture is God is always with us and he reminds us.  The nation of Israel was going through trials and judgement and God speaks through his prophet Isaiah these encouraging words. 

Now this is what the LORD says—the One who created you, Jacob, and the One who formed you, Israel—“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you. (Isa 43:1-2)

I hope when you read these two inspiring verses you noticed something…God never says he would remove you from what you’re facing, he says, “I will be with you”.  He says they will not overwhelm you, but he never says I will remove them all together.  He says there a reason for this, he says, “I have redeemed you and have called you by my name; you are mine.”  We are not our own, we were bought and paid for. (1 Cor. 6:10; 7:23)  Christ paid the debt of you sin and you were called by name to bring glory to his name. (Phil. 2:9-11)  You belong to God and that is a good thing!  He didn’t look down and see something special in you and thus he choose you on merit. No, you were his from the very beginning of time, before he spoke the worlds into existence, before he placed the stars and gave them their names (Psalm 147:4), you were loved and he has placed his name on you. (Eph. 1: 4-6)  

Knowing who you are makes all the difference, the waves can keep coming and I know God is with me.  I can face tomorrow because I know Jesus has paid the price for my sin, he has redeemed me and I am his.  He died and was buried and on the third day he rose again and because he lives I will live (Romans 6:4-8).  This life has no hold on me!  I belong to the King of kings and to the Lord of lords.  We need to keep this in our minds at all times as we watch the world around us rapidly change.  Jesus tells the disciples of what is to come in John chapter 16 and reminds them of who he is and who they are.  He tells them, “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." (Joh 16:33)  Be encouraged brothers and sisters, we serve a great God who is building his kingdom.  Now is the time to join him and to trust in HIM!