September 25
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.” Psalm 107:19-20
Psalm 107 is a psalm of praise for the God who rescues. He cites four physical examples that remind us of greater spiritual instances of God’s deliverance. The first example is Yahweh’s desire to save the lost (vv.4-9). The second is how God rescues those in bondage (vv.10-16)
The third example is God’s ability to deliver the diseased from death (vv.17-22). The psalmist cites an instance when some people rebelled against God, got sick, and then called out for God to heal them.
Sin is a sickness. In fact, it’s humanity’s universal and worst disease. It always leads to death.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the result was that all of creation suffered death—and more pointedly, they died, as has every human being since. That curse (Genesis 3) of physical death has not been lifted. Occasionally God intervenes to postpone, but no one escapes it.
Physical disease and death are not the worst of it. The Scripture reveals that spiritual death is much more fearsome: it separates us from God.
Recently, Sue and I were all excited about the arrival of our 10th grandchild, Patton Grant Barksdale. So cute! Yet, because the seed of sin is passed from generation to generation, he was born physically alive but is dead spiritually. The only way he can become alive spiritually and have a relationship with God is to call out by faith and place his trust in Jesus alone: “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins” (Colossians 2:13).
Jesus called this being “born again” (John 3:3, 7). Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “Born once, die twice; born twice, die once.” Those who are born physically AND spiritually will only taste the physical death—which will give way to a life where: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4).
If you haven’t already, put your trust in this death-defying Jesus who walked out of a tomb, having paid the penalty for your sin. If you have, praise Him for what He did for you.
Jesus, I only want to die once. I surrender to You and ask for life eternal. Amen!