Daily devotion – A true escape…
One of the great attractions to cinemas and classic movies is that they allow a person to ‘escape’ the reality of life for a moment. To be enamoured with a story, a hero, or a victory of some sort for someone who the viewer can relate to and wish that they were that person.
How many people when asked what they desire the most ask for ‘peace’ and ‘rest’, usually thinking of some tropical island far away from all their problems and sorrows. They seek the great escape!
Even the music scores of great movies are written either like anthems or hymns to stir our emotions to attempt to escape what awaits us outside the cinema walls.
But once the movie is over, or you daydream about that tropical island disappears, the stark reality of life abruptly re-appears.
But as believers, as followers of Jesus Christ, those who have had their sins forgiven by the death and resurrection of the Son of God, its not a movie cinema of a few hours that we get, or a moment of blissful thinking.
No, the reality of salvation is real eternal life, and a peace that passes all understanding. The greatest enemy we all face besides Satan is death. On Calvary’s Cross 2,000 years ago they both were defeated.
1Co 15:55
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
This Wednesday I will be attending the funeral of a young man and many of his friends will be there and without Christ the grief and sorrow they will face will be brutal and heartfelt.
But for every born-again believer, grief whilst we still will weep and sense the loss of a loved one, the sting, the roots of their grieving are tempered by the loving hand of God and the knowledge that there is eternal life for all who know Christ.
As Christians, we do not live in a fantasy world, we find ourselves living in a fallen world of sin and heartache. But into our darkness came the Light of the world, God’s only Son Jesus Christ, and He has come to rescue us and free us from our sin and shame.
Furthermore, He promises that when we breath our last breath here on this planet, He will personally be with us at that time and escort us to glory – to be with Him in Heaven for eternity.
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
It’s not a movie we will be going to nor will it be a deserted tropical island. It will be a very real Heaven, with the Throne of God beaming its light forever more, where there will be no sorrow, death, tears or shame.
And we will rejoice evermore in His presence!