Surrounded, Sealed, and Safe

"The greatest want of the world is the want of men - men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall." (Ellen G. White) Men who will stand, not just in their own might and ferociousness, but who will stand in the power and strong might of the one true God of the Universe. We don't stand against sin without the full armor of God. We don't need armor unless there is an enemy and I want to assure you we face a very real enemy - out to devour our souls and take us down to hell. He doesn't need to make heaven fall to get us to fall into hell's gates - he just needs to distract us into complacency to do that!

The one thing I want from God, the thing I seek most of all, is the privilege of meditating in his Temple, living in his presence every day of my life, delighting in his incomparable perfections and glory. There I’ll be when troubles come. He will hide me. He will set me on a high rock out of reach of all my enemies. Then I will bring him sacrifices and sing his praises with much joy. (Psalm 27:4-6)

It is a privilege to live in the presence of the Most Holy God. An unearned, and sometimes even an 'unacknowledged' standing we enjoy because of the finished work of Christ on the cross all those years ago. If you have an 'advantage' and don't use it, of what value is that advantage? For example, if there are two of you in the car and you have the advantage of using the carpool lane in the morning or evening traffic, but you never merge over into that lane, of what good was that 'advantage'? If we have the privilege of voting our conscience, but never use it, of what advantage is the privilege of living free? Advantage is only of value when it is accepted and used as it should be.

As a child of the living God, we are given the privilege (advantage) of living in his presence EVERY DAY of our lives - not just Sunday mornings! Start the day with him, get his Word into your heart early in the day, and see what a difference that 'advantage' brings throughout the day. The thing I seek most...what would that be today? Would we be able to answer the thing we seek most is the presence of God, or our social media feed, our games, or our newscasts? If we want God 'first' in our lives, we have to give him 'first place' in our day. It seems simplistic to have to say this but trust me on this one - choose him first and you will see that social media differently!

How do we stand in the power and might of the Lord? We are found enveloped (surrounded, sealed, and safe) in the presence of God as those troubles come. Notice that troubles come - they are certain in our lives. Therefore, we need to know how to stand in his strength and wisdom when they do come. Where will you be found when today's troubles come? If you have started this day with Christ, I daresay you will be 'closed up, safe, and secure' against each and every attack your enemy may bring! Just sayin!