IN HIM ALONE

“Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear for your God will come and He will save you.” from Isaiah 35:3-4

I hear on the TV, “Is your future secure?” Or read in a magazine, “Do you have a retirement plan?” We are urged on every side to “Save up. Invest. Put your money where your mouth is.”

Yet for years, John and I scraped by from pay check to pay check. The years on the ranch in Trego Montana were the skinniest. John worked several jobs so he could build our herd and reseed the fields. In the summer, I did trail rides so we could eat and buy gas. Going on vacations was out of the question. A day trip to Glacier was planned and saved for. To buy a new pair of jeans or long underwear was carefully considered. Saving was out of the question. A retirement plan was a joke. Health insurance was unattainable and a secure future was the pot at the end of the rainbow. Even a cushion for emergencies was as elusive as a hawk on the wings of the wind.

Yet we never went hungry, in fact, we grew fat, our needs were provided for, even our desires were showered upon us. We were taken care of. We were provided for. We were led to a fatter land.

Now, after being in North Dakota and John working in the “patch” for five years, we do have a considerable savings. Health insurance is provided, we do have a retirement plan and a cushion sits in the checking account. But is that security?

There is much unrest in the world around us. In our quiet, sparsely populated country side we don’t see the violence or hear the bombs or experience hunger or poverty, but we feel the fear. Oh yes the fear siphons through the TV, the social media and the newspapers. We see glimpses, we hear rumors, we wonder what is coming.

Like a giant cloud of locusts we sense doom and gloom swarming closer to our quiet, comfortable lives. Are we any better off?

The savings could become unattainable, the retirement plan could collapse, the cushion melt away.

Where is my security?

“I am with you always,” He says, “I will never leave you or forsake you forever and ever.” (from Joshua 1:5)

What a better cushion can I have?

The High King of Heaven, the Risen One, the Living Lord is with me. He holds me with His right hand. He UPholds me with His righteous right hand.

He guides me with His counsel and afterwards, when my life is finished on this earth, when He calls me Home, He will receive me in Glory. (from Ps. 73:23-24)

What better retirement plan could there be?

That’s not to say the curse of this world won’t touch me. That I won’t have problems and sorrows, or sickness won’t come upon me, but I have an investment in Jesus Christ. This is what my God says:

“Sing O daughter of the King! Shout O My Child! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Mine!

For the Savior has taken away our punishment. Jesus has cast the enemy away from you, so the evil one no longer has power over you.”

Is there a better way to put my treasure where my mouth is than to sing and rejoice?

For He goes on:

“The King of Heaven, the Lord, is in your midst!

You will fear disaster no more. For I am with you!

I say to you, ‘Do NOT fear, Child, let not your hands be weak from fear.

For I, the Lord your God, am in your midst!

You have no reason to fear for I, the Mighty One, will save you.

I rejoice over you, My child, with gladness.

I quiet and comfort you with My never-ending love.

I rejoice over you, My loved one, with singing!” (from Zephaniah 3:14-17)

Wow! My God is in my midst. He saves me, He carries me, He rejoices over me with singing! Do I need more security than that?

“Whom have I in Heaven but You, O my God?

There is none on earth I desire more than You. Nothing is more delightful than You.

My flesh and my heart fail, all the time, Lord, for I am weak and I am afraid. I am down trodden without You.

But You, my Jesus, are my strength, You are my Rock that never moves, You are my Portion forever.

You are all I need. Now, today and forever and ever.” (from Psalms 73:25-26)

Where is my security?

In Him alone. Christ is my Portion. I need no other.

“It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.” Ps. 73:28