JESUS, OUR HELP IN TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
It seems as we read of King David’s life that he was a man of many days of trouble. Even as a boy he had to kill the lion and bear to protect his father’s sheep. Later it would be fighting the giant Goliath, as well as other armies that threatened Israel. He lived in constant fear of King Saul trying to kill him. He even feared for his life when his own men that fought with him rebelled from his leadership. He even had to run for his life when his own son Absalom wanted to kill him. Just as it was prophesied by the prophet of the Lord, the sword would not depart from David’s family. It is no wonder that David wrote some of the psalms that he did where he cried to the Lord for protection and help. One thing we do know from all his psalms was that he never gave up on the Lord, and continued to trust in the Lord’s mercy, grace and love for him.
We all have days of trouble from one source or another. Praise God not every day is one of trouble, or it would be too much for anyone to handle. But like with King David, none of us have to have one day of trouble alone. If we do it is not the fault of the Lord, because he wants to be there to help us. Sometimes he keeps us from days of trouble, and other times he helps us through the days of trouble. The thing we always need to remember is that God has chosen to respect our free will, and if we do not want or ask for his help he will not force himself on us even if it would benefit us.
In Matthew 7:24-27 it says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” The keyword in this is parable might be if people put Jesus’ commands into practice. God has given creation a free will, and he will not take that away even when we get to heaven. We can do his will or not. We see this with Adam and Eve in the garden and everyone that has ever lived since then. Sad to say everyone has sinned against God, but many people have become hard hearted and refused to trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior putting their hope in themselves or something else. Where it becomes most evident is in the consequences when trouble comes their way. For those who do not look to Jesus for their help, they will find that their troubles will comes crashing down on them just as Jesus said. No one can overcome all their troubles, certainly not the last one of death and judgment by God.
In Matthew 16:16-18 Jesus tells Peter that his declaration that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God, would be the rock that his church would be built on. Only in the Christian faith do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The Jews certainly do not believe this to this very day. It was because of this that the Jewish Sanhedrin had him crucified. And this is the reason why Jews all over the world do not have peace in their lives, or with God and certainly not in Jerusalem. They have refused to build their relationship with God in the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, and that forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God only comes through having faith in the grace of Jesus atonement. They have continued to put their trust in obeying God’s law that they can not keep nor can anyone. The Muslims believe that Jesus was a righteous prophet of God, but not the son of God. They do not have peace in their lives or nations either. They too have built their hope on another rock. And the world is full of other beliefs that have their people putting their hope in other rocks. The fact is they like the house built on sand will all come crashing down on them. If not in this life, as they stand before God on Judgment Day. No matter how good we may try to be, or how hard we try to undo our sins, reconciliation with God must be on his terms and not ours. We have transgressed against him and not he against us!
We are living in perilous times. People all over the world have a sense of upcoming trouble and sorrow. I saw on TV just last night that people all over the world are very concerned about the upcoming presidential election in the United States. Some feel it could lead to economic trouble and even world war. Many believe that even the end of the earth is at hand. It seems everyone sinces trouble, but few are looking to Jesus for the help. Even much of the conservative Christian faith in the United States are putting their hope in certain presidential candidates. Even these Christian leaders and laity alike are putting their hope on sinking sand rather than the solid rock, Jesus Christ!
Although King David did not live at a time to know about Jesus’ atonement, he did know that he wanted to be high on the rock that only the Lord could provide for him. Are you at this point in your life? Trusting in anything or anyone other than Jesus and you will find yourself having your problems crashing down on you. If you have never put your trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life, I encourage you to do this now before it is too late. If for some reason you have found yourself trusting and hoping in someone or something else, I encourage our to get back on the solid rock, Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we know that you alone are the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Heavenly Father but by you. You are our solid rock, and in you alone do we trust. Please help us in our times of trouble to stand and keep standing firmly on you, for you alone are the Son of God!
