Things We Can Be Sure Of

Our world seems to be one that is full of uncertainty.  Governments and institutions fail us.  Marriage and families fails us.  Corporations fail us.  Even those Michelin tires occasionally go flat!

All this uncertainty breeds anxiety and fearfulness.  We become suspicious of everything and everyone.

Before you decide to retreat from the world and live in a cave, let me point out some things that you CAN be sure of.

1.      The Steadfastness of God

“Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand.

Build your hope on things eternal.  Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” – (Jennie Wilson)

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  Deuteronomy 33:27

“What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms.” – (Elisha Hoffman)

2.      God’s Love

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:22-24

“The way that He loves is as fair as the day that blesses my way with light;

The way that He loves is as soft as the breeze, caressing the trees at night.

So tender and precious is He, contented with Jesus I’ll be;

The way that He loves is so thrilling because His love reaches even me.” – (Elmo Mercer)

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

“He loves me! He loves me!  He loves me this I know!

He gave himself to die for me, because He loves me so!” – (Anthony Showalter)

3.      God’s Grace

“Deeper than the ocean and wider than the sea,

Is the grace of the Savior for sinners like me;

Sent from the Father, and it thrills my soul,

Just to feel and to know,

That His blood makes me whole.” – (Whitey Gleason)

For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith.  Ephesians 2:8

“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but know am found, was blind but now I see.” – (John Newton)

4.      God’s Guidance and Protection

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalm 23

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;

I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to gray;

I don’t worry over the future, for I know what Jesus said,

And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand;

But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” – (Ira Stanphill)

5.      Heaven awaits the faithful

“Some glad morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away,

To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.

When the shadows of this life have grown, I’ll fly away,

Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away.

I’ll fly away, oh, glory, I’ll fly away; When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away.” – (Albert Brumley)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  Revelation 21:1-4

“To Canaan’s land I’m on my way, where the soul of man never dies;

My darkest night will turn to day, where the soul of man never dies.

Dear friends there’ll be no sad farewells, no tear-dimmed eye.

Where all is peace and joy and love, where the soul of man never dies.” – (William Golden)