Detour

In the last post we talked about the Apollo 13 near tragedy and how the astronauts' courage and confidence brought them safely home. In today's post I was going to apply lessons from the astronauts to our Christian walk. However, that will have to wait for another time.

The prelude to our church service this morning was Amazing Grace. On the screen was Psalm 40:1-2.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Gratitude and love for the Lord washed over me as I listened to the music and thought about those words. Psalm 40:1-3 happens to be one of the passages God gave me after saving me from a life of sin, despair, and desperation. Therefore, I'm compelled to take this detour today and write about God's amazing mercy, love, and grace.

Let's go on a journey. Imagine yourself hiking in the country. It started out as a sunny day full of promise. But suddenly the sky darkened, thunder roared, and rain pelted you as you ran for cover. In your haste to make it to a grove of trees, you fell into a deep hole. The water is gushing down, making the sides of the hole slippery. You dig your fingers into the wet mud, but there is nothing to grab onto, so you slip and slide as you cry out in fear. The water continues to rise as you flail about, looking for any kind of handhold to pull yourself up.

Suddenly, a strong-looking man appears. He gets on his knees, reaches down and pulls you up. He sets you on solid ground, and you are safe. Would you be grateful? You better believe it!

How much more Jesus has done for us! Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He has rescued us from the pit of hell. As scary as it is to think about falling into a literal pit, it's even more frightening to think about dying without Jesus.

I was there - apart from Jesus. That's why Psalm 40 means so much to me. I lived in a pit, crying out for relief from despair and unending emotional pain. I felt hopeless. I tried grabbing onto anything the world had to offer for relief, only to find myself sinking deeper into the pit.

Then one day, God reached down, lifted me out of the pit, and set my feet on solid ground. Jesus Christ is my Savior, and I am eternally safe. Friends, if you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, you have the following promise:

It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us,and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

No matter what storms hit our lives, no matter how bleak the economy looks, no matter how our bodies break down, we have the assurance that our strong God will bring us safely to heaven.

Let's focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and not on our earthly circumstances. Our confidence is in Him. He is our life, He is our all in all, He is the One whom we owe everything.

Let's bow down and worship Him for who He is - our great Redeemer!