Still Saving

In the stillness, you will see the Savior. Jesus is our hope and future. In Him flows the river of life, and in Him we find our further reward.

“Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth…Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. …Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan…The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.”

1 Chronicles 8:1-40

In this chapter, we learn about the family of Benjamin. Benjamin means son of the right hand, which is particularly significant when we read the New Testament passage later that details the death of the Son on the cross. When reading Chronicles, does it surprise you that entire lifetimes are summed up with a single name?

We can read right past chapters that list seemingly endless names, but each name has a story, and each story matters to God. Life is short, and we all will have a day when we breathe our last breath. Our lives tend to center on our experiences, our hopes, and our plans, but God wants to change our perspectives. He wants us to change the way we see life so we can see that everything points to His plan. A plan to give hope and a future to all people through the Son who now sits at His Right Hand.

Rather than continuing your day with a focus on what you want, consider stopping. Pausing. Being still and asking God what He wants. Then be thankful that you are not alone, nor do you have to come up with a plan to atone. Jesus said it is finished.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. The Lord Almighty is with us; Come and see what the Lord has done…He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalms 46:1-11

We get the privilege of reading this song, knowing that our salvation is already secured by our Savior. We have read the story and know the stone will be removed. We do not encounter this text wondering how the story will end.

We can be still because of the cross. We can be still because Jesus said it is finished, and He only speaks in truth. We can be still because He conquered death, and we no longer have to fear what the future holds. Jesus is our refuge, our strength, our fortress against condemnation, and the God who is with us.

Be still. Breathe. Relax. Let go of the worry and hurry of life. Let go of the fears of what is to come. It is finished. When you take your last breath, that will just be the beginning of the best day of your life. Your first step in heaven will be along the river of life whose streams make the people of God glad as they glorify God and go meet their eternal Maker.

David was a king, yet he knew all the authority he had came from heaven. He knew his hope was not in his own strength. The world around him may have been chaotic, but he could stay calm, knowing that if God was for him, nothing could overtake him. How often do we allow fear to get us off track? Do you have any fears impacting your heart?

Are your fears stronger than what Jesus did on the cross, or do you need to reframe your thoughts in light of the words that it is finished? The work is done. You have a hope and a future. You are promised a further reward and one day will be with the Father. Jesus is our fortress for all time. This truth should put our minds at ease today.

“All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad…Anyone who is among the living has hope…For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward…Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished…Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” Ecclesiastes 9:2-10

How does knowing that you are going to die change how you live? Does it not give us an invitation to trust God with our todays and our tomorrows? Does it not lower the temperature and decrease the pressure that we feel? Does it not remove the stranglehold of fear?

Solomon guides us in a different direction. He does not say that we can just sit back and relax and wait for the Savior to come. He said, make each day your masterpiece. Enjoy every moment. Slow down. Be still. Listen to good music and enjoy the smiles of your loved ones. What do you enjoy most? How can you do it more?

The mindset that Solomon tells us is best is one where we operate out of a sense of wholeness. He said, always be clothed in white and anointed with the oil of joy. Let’s be honest, is that how you feel? How often are we critical and condemning of ourselves? Paul wrote in Ephesians that you are God’s masterpiece. Is that how you see yourself?

Jesus died on the cross that we might live with freedom in our hearts and an understanding of how precious we are to Him. The value of someone or something is based on the price a person would pay. Jesus paid the price for us by sacrificing his own life. He is the one who gets to determine our value, and He says we are worth more than gold. Solomon said the same thing. God already approves of you. Live as though you are loved by God. It has been said that hurt people hurt people, but loved people will love people.

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile…Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters…Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Jeremiah 29:4-14

We would do well to memorize this passage and apply these truths to our lives. Do you see how radical the love of God is? In the hardest time, when the people are feeling furthest from God while in exile, God said you have a hope and a future. You will prosper.

Do not miss for a moment how unexpected this message would be. The natural inclination is to look at our circumstances or challenges and condemn ourselves for where we have failed. Fear of failing again robs more people of future success than we can imagine. Fear makes us not want to try again. Fear makes us want to quit. Shame and guilt say that there is no point in trying again. Where have you given up on a dream? Where have you stopped believing in the promises of God?

The story is not over. God has a plan for your life and wants to do a new thing in you. He said don’t wait or have if, then, or when thinking. Plant a seed today and believe in the power of God. Believe that the best is yet to come. God said pray for the people who took you captive and for the city where you are in exile. He wants to free our hearts from offense so that we can find our hope in Him.

There is one critical conditional clause. God says seek me with all your heart. Not part of it, not when it is convenient, not just when you are hurting. He said all and always. Marriage is not meant to be part-time. We are talking about a covenant relationship with our Creator and with Christ. God does not say be perfect. He knows we will not be. He said seek and commit to Me, and you will see I already have a plan to bless you. Do you believe Him? Will you go all in?

“The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”…Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” John 19:2-42

Jesus is the name above every name. He is the Son at the right hand, our refuge in the storm, our hope and future, and our Savior who declared it is finished. Think of the words of David. Be still and know. There must have been an eerie silence standing at the cross after He died and a sadness as they placed Him in the tomb. Stillness has a weight.

Jesus did not promise us an easy life. In fact, we might often feel like people living in exile. His promise is not ease, but new life. It is a life where we walk as though clothed in white because our sins are white as snow, made clean by His blood. We walk knowing we are anointed with the oil of joy because of the price He paid on our behalf. We walk knowing our future is secure and sin is defeated. We can be still because He is God.

Fear no longer has a hold on us. Sin no longer has a hold on us. Failure, guilt, and shame no longer have a dwelling place in our hearts. He is God with us. He is within us, and He goes before us. It is finished. Say it out loud and share it with your neighbors. David said declare the work that God has done.

Where do you need to be still? Where do you need to let go? Where do you need to believe again and see that God has made a way for you to live abundantly? The invitation today is to slow down and see today as a gift. It is an invitation to love like Jesus and live a life worthy of the price He paid for you.

Where do we start? Recognize that God has given you strengths and wants to see you do your best. He wants you to plant, pray, and produce fruit. It all starts by seeking God with all your heart and knowing that you are fully known and fully loved.

Do not forget the cross. Do not forget the crown of thorns. Do not forget the nails. Do not forget the cup He drank. Do not forget the price He paid. It is finished because He suffered. The worst thing we can do is forget that it is finished and go back to living for ourselves.

Jesus died that we might live. Be still and know that He is God. Stillness requires trust. Now live as though you trust in the power of God. Live knowing that you do not know the number of your days. Love and work with all your might. Loved people love people. Hold on to hope and expect God to work a miracle in the midst of your exile. The plans for hope prepared, the work on the cross already finished, but your life has just begun.