Corona Devo 3239

 If we spend any amount of time outside the walls of our home, or even inside...but watching the news or scrolling online, we eventually sense the darkness that sin has draped over this world.  Pain, violence, sadness, sickness, disillusion, and even the blatant denial of God are realities not only in the world, but in people.

Sometimes it is so heavy, we seek escape.  We seek a place of safety.

On a busy downtown street recently, we passed a street vendor with wall art displayed.  Each of the paintings was wild with color and shaky in lines and design, so as to represent/replicate/remind the viewer of being under the influence of a substance while viewing the "art".  

The (many!) paintings made me sad, and then mad.  

And at the end of the display of paintings sat (what looked to be) a homeless man.  He chattered loudly to no one that I could see.  And when we passed his area, he looked straight at me and asked me if I was a bird? 

At that moment, it was almost as if I felt a whoosh of darkness sweep by us, as I felt the man's emptiness...but also his desire to live in it.  

I have no idea what I felt, but the paintings, the people, and the lack of Christ made me want to come back to a place of safety, and we promptly left the area.

Certainly, there are beautiful and pure places, people , and situations in this world.   We have all been blessed by the benevolence and love of others.  But (I have no doubt) that each of us have also experienced the darkness and the dangers of this fallen world that we live in as well. 

If we know the Lord, we also know that this world is not our home.  We are prisoners here until our appointed time to live in freedom with the Lord. 

  • But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...  ~Philippians 3:20 
  • For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.  ~Hebrews 13:14

But be encouraged today, fellow soldiers of Christ.  We are not home yet.  But the Lord promises us a place of safety if we need it today.  

We can have hope!

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!  I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.  ~Zechariah 9:12

We are not at home here, although some days we hardly notice.  The sunrise is new, and the sunset is gorgeous, and much of the time...life is fine.  

But then the storm clouds come--of pain, death, sorrow, hurt, disappointment, or sin.  

People have desired their will instead of God's.  They seem to look right through us and ask us if we are a bird?  

This world holds so many people, not that have-not-heard about Jesus Christ as their Savior, but who desire to know Him not.

But we need not fear today.

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!  ~Zechariah 9:12 

Yes, we do still have hope, Father, and in You we find a place of safety, even amongst the wild and weird and even wicked voices of this world. 

You beckon us in today, Lord, and we happily, wearily, willingly come back to your place of safety today.

Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope!  I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. 

(13) Judah is my bow, and Israel is my arrow.  Jerusalem is my sword, and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks. 

(14) The Lord will appear above his people; his arrows will fly like lightning!  The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert. 

(15) The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people, and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones.  They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine... 

(16) On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.  They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.

(17) How wonderful and beautiful they will be!  ~Zechariah 9:12-15 

Lord, we praise You that even in a fallen (and sometimes scary) world, You are our place of safety.  You beckon us back to You today, and we are taking You up on it!  We are prisoners of this world, but our hearts are free in You and Your truth.  We will share in Your coming victory and on that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep.  They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.  We rest with You in safety today, Father and we praise You that we are not birds, but jewels in Your crown.  Amen.

Blessings,

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