Read today’s texts first: Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27
Our worst case scenario, dying, is our best case
scenario, being with Jesus forever.
scenario, being with Jesus forever.
When we step into the realm of faith (yesterday’s devotional), fear is no longer a factor (yes, borrowing the phrase from a gross reality show is intentional!). Even when we walk through a dark valley, with no idea where we are going and the shadow of death engulfing us, there’s nothing to worry about (Psalm 23:4). God is with us.
A past journal entry on this day recorded the story of Sargon and I walking through the college singing an impromptu duet of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Yes, it was both a strange sight and a strange sound (the students had a good laugh at our expense), but it was also significant in other ways. We represent two completely different people from opposite places in the world (Sargon is from war-torn Iraq), singing together because of the peace we now share in knowing Jesus.
I can imagine Paul singing the same kind of song while his ship was being torn apart off the coast of Malta. He knew he was going to arrive in Rome in one piece so nothing along the way seemed to bother him. Even the poisonous asp hanging off his hand (I read ahead to ch. 28) had no effect on him (quite literally).
The promise of Psalm 23 is true – when God is with us, goodness and lovingkindness follow us every day of our lives. Our greatest fear, the shadow of death, has no effect when we realize death is just a doorway to “the house of the Lord” where we will dwell with Him forever (6). Our worst case scenario, dying, is our best case scenario, being with Jesus forever. “Thank You Lord that wherever I follow You, fear is simply not a factor.”
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