JULY 3

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

*** ***

*IIChronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is toward Him.”

*Ephesians 1:19

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”

*Ephesians 2:6   “And has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

*Psalm 91:1&2

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

*Psalm 37: 39 & 40

“But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

He is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;

He shall deliver them from the wicked,

And save them,

Because they trust in Him.”

***  ***

We are reading a book by Corrie ten Boom, with daily recordings she made to broadcast over Trans World Radio.  Her Dutch family  sheltered Jews during the Nazi invasion of Holland.  As a result, she, her sister Betsy and their father were taken to concentration camps in Germany. The Lord did many miracles to allow both Corrie and Betsy to bring the Gospel to the other women in their camp.   Their father was murdered in an extermination camp and Betsy was sick, dying just two weeks before Corrie and the rest were freed.  After her freedom, Corrie traveled the world, telling everyone even in remote areas, about salvation through Christ, besides radio and writing many books.  This one is entitled, “Not I, but Christ.”

*** ***

FALLING MOUNTAINS

Ps 46:2

“Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

Many mountains around us are falling.  How glad I am to have the Bible, that book full of heavenly certainties that cannot be removed.  We value them more when the certainties of the earth are moving as in an earthquake.

My father was always a great help to me.  He was a watchmaker, but also a theologian.  When I was a child I asked him one day:

“Daddy, what does “predestination” mean?”  He answered:  “Predestination means that the ground on which I build  my hope lies  not in myself but in God’s faithfulness.”

Well, if we see predestination like this, it makes us glad.  I have heard many predestination thoughts of the devil, who used them to take away the assurance of faith and to keep it away.

“Though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”  The prophecies which I did not understand are now much clearer.  The things that are going to happen before Jesus will return, in the time of Antichrist, make us shudder.

It used to be all so far away; I did not understand it.  Today we read the signs of the times in the newspaper.  If I had never before believed the Bible, I would do so now, when I read the newspapers.  When we read about wars, rumors of war, earthquakes, and other catastrophes, we can understand that people’s hearts will fail them for fear.  This is what the Bible also says in Luke 21:26.   Terrible things are going to happen!

A pastor once said:  “If I read a sad book, I always look at the last page.  If I read that they find one another and live happily ever after, I read the rest with pleasure, knowing that everything will turn out well.”   He added, “this is what I also do with the Bible.  When I feel fearful, I look at the last page.  Then I know that Jesus will come again.  He who promised to make all things new so that this earth will be covered with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the bottom of the sea.

The best is yet to be.  What a comfort! When things become difficult and frightening, just read the last page of the Bible.  Yes, the best is yet to be!  and the sufferings of this present time cannot be compared to the joys of the time that is coming.  What a comfort that is!

But till then, we have this certainty in these days:  2 Timothy 1:7 ~ “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  The Holy Spirit causes us not to fear, even though the mountains be carried into the sea.  Be filled with God’s Spirit, who shows that God has no problems, only plans.  There is never a panic in heaven.  The Holy Spirit makes us understand the  Bible.  God is faithful; His plans never fail.

I remember one day when I came into a room in the concentration camp where Betsie, my sister, had a Bible study.  She was telling that an architect’s blueprint of a house shows all sorts of things:  a threshold, a window, a roof.  She said:  “Just like this, God made a blueprint of your life and mine, and somewhere it said, “Ravensbruck.”  God does not make any mistakes, although we do not understand Him.”

Well, I most certainly did not understand when I saw Betsie starve to death.  There was still so much for her to do.

One day, when we are in heaven, we shall see and understand it all.  But already I sometimes see the reasons why.  As for Betsie, I understand already.   In my book, “The Hiding Place” I tell about Betsie.  Often I hear:  “Your sister has been used greatly by the Lord for me.  I can forgive again.  She showed me that the Holy Spirit gives God’s love into our hearts, and because of that even I can forgive and love my enemies.”   If Betsie had come out alive she might never have reached as many people as by means of the books.

Why is that book about her being used?  Because, time and again, it points to the message of the Bible.  Nearly everybody can obtain and read the Bible.  That glorious message is in it, that God loves the world.  Therefore, we need not fear, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

John 3:16 says:

“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”   How terrible was that which happened on the cross.  Surely everything was lost; what a mountain fell at that time!  But just at that moment seething wonderful happened, the answer to a terrible need, the need of sin.  There the Savior bore the sins of the whole world – your and my sins.

Thank you, Lord, that You did this.  Thank you that You finished all and that we know that You not only died for us, but that You live and are with us.  And, Lord, then we shall not fear, though the earth be removed, for we shall be safe with You whatever may happen.  Hallelujah!  Thank You, Lord!  Amen.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord