Welcome to Hank’s Place – December 27, 2020
We are probably all familiar with the story that goes something like this: A traveler comes to town looking for a certain destination. He inquires of a passerby on the street, who advises, “go to the stop sign, turn left, go a half-mile — no wait — turn right at the stop sign, then go — no wait — go back the way you came to the highway and — no wait — you can’t get there from here.”
Well, what if that destination was Heaven? How does a person get there from here? Do the best we can? Try harder? Become a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas? The reality is — WE CAN’T get there from here! But there IS a Divine solution.
It brings me to a most unusual phrase that God uses about Himself. Found only 3 times in the entire Bible.
First is Is 43:11. “I, yes I, am God.” Or “I, only I am the Lord. I’m the only Savior there is. There is no savior besides Me.”
In repeating His name, God is emphasizing the strength of the statement, and making it very personal. Think a thunderous sound through all of Heaven and the earth. I, and only I, am God. I am The Lord – the only Savior. Your Savior. We can’t get the Heaven from here. But, The Lord God has come to earth to bring us there! Think about that, and have a happy new year!
Second is Is 43:25. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, lawless acts, sins, rebellion, for MY OWN SAKE, and remembers your sins no more.” When we get to heaven there will be no remembrance of our sins! No wait! We ARE new creations NOW, when we believed on Jesus! Transformed. Our nature is no longer of sin, but HIS nature: a righteous one.
Sure, the world, neighbors, relatives, family and especially satan, may continue to accuse and remind us of who we WERE, of what we did. But God doesn’t. So let’s choose to believe God’s report about us instead of the devil’s report? Think about it, and have a happy new year!
Third is Is 51:12. “I, even I, am he who comforts you.” God, is passionately declaring He will comfort us, wipe away every tear, fill us with peace when we get to Heaven. Rev 21:4. He is intent upon doing this – for the old order as it says, will have passed away.
But wait! 2 Cor 1:3-4 says “He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” NOW. Yes, there are troubles in this life, but our God is intent on comforting us, NOW. So, let’s let Him — have our hurts and pains from 2020. From anytime. He knows how to comfort, sustain, heal and strengthen us. Let’s let Him — and have a happy new year.
After all, He is the one who causes us — to COME ALIVE!
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