His Protection
I am very thankful for the men and women who serve in our armed forces. I’m also thankful for the men and women who serve in law enforcement, our first responders and our medical personnel. I feel a certain sense of protection because of the career they’ve chosen. I’m not going to do something crazy on purpose, but I do believe if an accident occurs, my chances of survival are great because of their calling, training and skills.
Jeremiah was consistently prophesying against Judah and Israel. The Lord had told him that Jerusalem was going to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. The people of Judah mostly ignored Jeremiah. They did imprison him because they didn’t like his message.
The day finally came when the prophesy came true. He was still in custody when the Babylonians broke through the wall of Jerusalem. The Lord had provided for his protection. Check this out….
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: 12 “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.”
They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.
15 While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: 16 “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the LordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. 18 I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’”(Jeremiah 39:11-12; 14b-18 NLT)
Jeremiah totally trusted the Lord with his personal safety. He was obedient even to the end when things looked bleak. I believe he was prepared to die if that was what the Lord had for him. I believe he trusted the Lord consistently.
I want to trust the Lord at all times. I don’t want to cower in fear about going places and doing things out of fear for my life. I’m not really a reckless person, so I’m not going to tempt death. I will not let fear of dying control my desire to live all out for the rest of my days. The best I can figure, the death rate here on earth is 100%, so everyone dies. I think the important point is to live for the One Who created me. I trust in Him. He is with me. He promised me that this life isn’t all there is. I want to live confidently within His protection of me.
Pressing On!
Dwayne