Will you escape? As we get started, we all have the freedom to choose what we believe. We have the freewill to choose if we will accept or reject God’s gift of grace. It’s a time to step in or step up in faith and choose to receive Jesus into our lives. He is our way out and our escape pod from the years of tribulation. So, we need to choose wisely and make sure to decide before it is too late and have to deal with the consequences.
Escape the Tribulation through Faith:
In the journey of life, the choice of belief is a profound one, endowed with the sacred gift of free will. This choice hinges on our response to the divine offer of grace extended by God Himself. The Scriptures affirm in Ephesians 2:8-9,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This gift, exemplified in the person of Jesus Christ, serves as the ultimate refuge, the escape pod amidst the storms of existence. Consequently, the decision to accept or reject this gift is pivotal. As Hebrews 3:15 exhorts,
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
Thus, the present moment beckons us to embrace Christ, the way out of turmoil and tribulation, lest we face the dire consequences of delay.
Key Takeaways:
- Grace as the Path of Salvation: Ephesians emphasizes that salvation is not earned through human effort but received as a gift of divine grace. This underscores the centrality of Christ as the means of deliverance from sin and its consequences.
- Urgency of Decision: Hebrews underscores the urgency of responding to God’s invitation. Procrastination risks hardening the heart, hindering one’s ability to accept the salvation offered through Christ.
Application:
- Choose Today: Reflect on your response to God’s offer of grace. Embrace Christ as your Savior, recognizing His role as the ultimate escape pod from the trials of life.
- Share the Good News: Recognize the urgency of sharing the message of salvation with others. Encourage them to make the life-changing decision to follow Christ without delay.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: A WAY OF ESCAPE
Verse: Revelation 3:10 NIV
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.
Escape Saigon
Today’s devotional kicks off with an example from history speaking about the fall of Saigon in 1975. Digging into the topic, I found the following insights. The fall of Saigon stands as a poignant chapter in history, symbolizing the culmination of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. As North Vietnamese forces encroached upon the capital, the frantic scenes at the US Embassy epitomized the desperation and chaos of those final days. The evacuation efforts, notably the dramatic airlifts from the embassy rooftop, encapsulated the harrowing reality faced by both American personnel and countless South Vietnamese civilians. Amidst the impending communist takeover, throngs of South Vietnamese sought refuge, pleading for inclusion in the evacuation amidst fears of reprisal and persecution under the new regime. This pivotal moment underscored the human toll of conflict and the profound impact of geopolitical decisions, leaving an indelible mark on the collective memory of those who witnessed the tumultuous events of April 1975.
Escape Tribulation
Today’s devotional mirrors this experience to what is going to happen during the 7 years of Tribulation when people who haven’t decided to receive and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior are going to be faced with a time where they will be begging for a way out, a way to escape. It shows how “those not taken in the Rapture of the church may come to faith in Christ during the Tribulation, but they will still endure the trials of that dark time.” Today’s devotional reminds us how making the decision now, before it is too late, we can be the dads and families who “can avoid the trials that will visit the earth during the Tribulation.” Let’s be the dads who not only have accepted and received Jesus as our Lord and Savior but who have also helped ensure our wives and kids are aware and had the opportunity too so that each as children of God have found the way for us to escape the Tribulation.
Today’s devotional closes with this reminder mirroring Noah and the ark to us and the tribulation when it says: “Just as God provided Noah’s family an ark of refuge, so Christ becomes an ark of deliverance for all who believe.”
“Oh, how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one, and say “Escape for thy life!”
ROBERT MURRAY MCCHEYNE
