Tag: God is our protection

  • Through Faith We’re Kept by God’s Power

    Through Faith We’re Kept by God’s Power

    A large stone castle sitting in the middle of a green pond with grasses in the foreground and a pale sky overhead

    Throughout the Old Testament, images like a refuge, a shield, and a fortress are used to represent God. They describe how perfectly secure all the ones who live in Him are. The word “kept” is sometimes used as a military word in the Bible to indicate protection, as in a fortress. God is able to keep His children by His infinite and mighty miracle-working power, which is unconquerable. Our faith is strengthened when it grabs hold of this power, and we are therefore preserved.

    What else is necessary to keep and preserve a child of God in a state of never-ending trial from the world’s corrupting influence? Nothing. But God can’t guard anyone, in spite of all His power, unless there is a continuing effort called “faith” on our part. God is the One Who exerts this almighty power, but He doesn’t keep us merely by doing this. He also activates faith in our heart, which, along with His power, becomes the means of keeping us.

    As long as our faith continues to be in Him, we will be safely guarded. But when there’s no faith or perseverance, there will be no power. 

    Our Faith Must Continue in Him

    We are not united with God spiritually by our intellectual belief. We are only united by trusting in Him every day. He will come to our defense through our faith in Him, which is a combination of being steadfast and trusting, no matter how bad things may appear to us. And it is through faith that we are able to rely on both the power and the promises of the One Who keeps us. As long as our faith continues to be in Him, we will be safely guarded. But when there’s no faith or perseverance, there will be no power. 

    Looking across the back of the head of young Caucasian woman with brown hair holding a black covered Bible at arms length against a white background, showing her faith.
    Photo by Priscilla Du Preez from Unsplash

    It is God’s power, through our faith according to His Word, which gives keeps us confident in Him. All who rest on His power are kept in a totally different way than those who rely on their own loyalty as a child of God. The only ones who are able to conquer all their enemies, along with the world, the flesh and the devil, are those who depend on the power of God. It’s better, therefore, for us to be “…kept by the power of God through faith” (1 Peter 3:5).

    He preserves us by bringing about the exercising of His grace in us. This will set our heart on things that will keep it united with God and His promise. What is the power that never fails? “The power of God through faith.” God Himself acts by keeping faith in our heart in Him, by which we can be kept to the very end. 

    Let’s hope that “The eyes of your understanding [are] being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:18-21).

    …by faith, His children are kept for the inheritance by His power until the complete deliverance waiting for us comes.

    Our Eternal Inheritance

    The inheritance of God’s children is preserved for us now in heaven, while we are being kept here on earth for the inheritance. It is therefore kept safe from injury, harm or destruction by the Lord who never fails. And, by faith, His children are kept for the inheritance by His power until the complete deliverance waiting for us comes. It is “ready to be revealed” in these last days when the Lord comes for His children.

    Looking out across the top of a stone castle surrounded by mountains, dark blue water, and a partially clouded blue sky
    Photo from Enrique by Pixabay

    The same God Who keeps this inheritance for His children also keeps them for the inheritance. He Himself encircles His people on earth as the “mountains are round about Jerusalem” (Psalm 125:2). If we will hold tightly to the sheltering protection of His power, we will remain as free from harm as our inheritance is in heaven. But heaven has to be in us first before we are able to be in heaven!

    The power to keep and to persevere is not in us; it is in God. Earth will soon be closed to us, but we have already had a glorious glimpse of a better inheritance waiting for us. It will surpass the enjoyment of anything we could ever have here. 

    How eternal is our inheritance? As eternal as the Heavens where it waits for us, and as eternal as the One who prepared it for us! He was from the beginning, He is now and He ever will be. Therefore, the possessions we have in Him are also eternal and will never decay. The heavens and earth may pass away, but God still lives! Nothing He has said will ever fail. The precious promises of God are as eternal as He is. 

    We are not kept through rebelling and refusing to obey, but by faith as we look to Christ, as we live by Him, and as we rely on Him.

    Christ Will Keep Us

    Christ has taken the whole responsibility on Himself to redeem His people. He will keep us and mediate for us. In the end, He’ll present us all to our heavenly Father. We’ll be kept safe from harm or destruction by God’s power and our own steadfastness. We are not kept through rebelling and refusing to obey, but by faith as we look to Christ, as we live by Him, and as we rely on Him. He’ll never desert us, and we’ll never desert Him. He is carefully protecting us for our salvation, which will be made known through Him on the last day.

    A black and white photo of a group of Medieval solders in full battle gear including swords, spears, and shields containing various crests
    Photo from Siggy Nowak by Pixabay

    Since God’s children are kept by His own power, we know that we’ll be protected as carefully and securely as if there were troops stationed at a post watching over us, to shield us from all the attacks, invasions, and maneuvers of both the devil and the world. “…you…are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). When the present condition of situations in the world comes to an end, then the grandest and last salvation will be revealed. How very blessed we are when the God Who is all-powerful provides our protection!

    [Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) from Bruno by Pixabay; Opening photo from Rob Owen-Wahl by Pixabay]

  • We Need Giants in Our Life – Part Two

    We Need Giants in Our Life – Part Two

    Comical illustration of a giant warrior's head wearing a tan helmet with mouth open in exclamation

    In our last article about the necessity for giants, we saw how the children of Israel found themselves at an impasse concerning the Philistine nation. Israel did not even dare to attempt to conquer them, due to a key representative put in place by the Philistine army—one massive giant. He was quite a formidable figure: nearly ten feet tall, likely weighing hundreds of pounds, along with his colossal armor, sword, and spear. He was, therefore, quite an intimidating sight to behold. This jeering menace kept the Israelites in constant fear and distress every time they tried to go out against their enemy.

    But one young shepherd named David changed this whole situation, after he heard the threats and mockery directed toward his brothers and the God that he served. He had all already fought and eliminated many smaller ‘giants’ during his time spent guarding his father’s sheep. He therefore regarded this monstrosity of the Philistines as nothing greater than the sum total of all his previous conquests. and, through his trust in God’s faithfulness, he felt ready to take on this pride of the enemy.

    David tried to use all that man had to offer him, but in the end, he was unable to. Why? Because he had not proved or tested them. In other words, he was familiar and comfortable with the means that God had provided for him in the past.

    Now, even though David had already made known to Saul, the king of Israel, that he had overcome the lion and the bear with his own hands and might, still “Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him”(1 Samuel 17:38,39). David tried to use all that man had to offer him, but in the end, he was unable to. Why? Because he had not proved or tested them. In other words, he was familiar and comfortable with the means that God had provided for him in the past. He politely took the protections of man, but then “put them off him.”

    Instead, “he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip [small pouch]; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:40). At this point, David could have mustered up a portion, if not all, of the army of Israel, and ordered them to come with him to bring down the giant. But he had no need to, for he was confident that God was with Him. He also knew that the wild beasts that wanted to devour his sheep back in the wilderness were destroyed without the assistance of his brothers, neighbors or anyone else. During that period, it was just God and him.

    “And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained [rejected] him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves [staffs]? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field”(1 Samuel 17:42-44). This was the final moment for David. Would he flee, or fight? Was he going to give up, and then make it known to God that He would have to make His tests either smaller or easier for him in the future?

    And when God brings enormous giants into our life, it really should not surprise us. He knows to what degree we are capable of conquering. It also demonstrates that we have passed the smaller tests of faith and courage that we encountered in the past.

    David had come too far at this point to retreat. Again, he knew that he had the Lord with him. He was the same One who delivered the children of Israel from the Egyptian rulers and taskmasters, the same One who parted the Red Sea so they could pass through unhindered, who fed them in the wilderness with the food of angels, who gave them the protection of a cloud by day and fire by night, who poured out water from a rock to quench their thirst, who brought them through the Jordan river without a single sandal wet, and the list goes on.

    “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45,46). What had actually happened was that this mighty individual had gone too far with God and, like David, he could not retreat either. It was not so much David that Goliath provoked, nor the Israelites, but rather God Himself!

    David never said that he was going to bring victory for the people through all of his own wonderful efforts and actions. He knew that he was only a tool for his Heavenly Father to use to bring glory to Himself.

    And when God brings enormous giants into our life, it really should not surprise us. He knows to what degree we are capable of conquering. It also demonstrates that we have passed the smaller tests of faith and courage that we encountered in the past. Notice also the way David refers to God in the previous passage. It is not as “God Almighty,” but as the “Lord,” or “Jehovah of hosts.” This implies intimacy and closeness, like a father’s relationship to his child. In the past, the Israelites only knew God as “the Almighty”, suggesting a distant and more impersonal connection. It is only when we walk alongside God, understanding Him as our Heavenly Father, that our confidence in Him develops to the point where we come to know that the impossible can become possible.

    David honored God in all that He was about to accomplish. He declared that “..all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands”(1 Samuel 17:47). David never said that he was going to bring victory for the people through all of his own wonderful efforts and actions. He knew that he was only a tool for his Heavenly Father to use to bring glory to Himself.

    Fantasy illustration of a small warrior standing between two giant feet in a desert wilderness
    Image by Stefan Keller on Pixabay

    No matter where we are in our walk with God, we will also face a particular kind of Goliath at some point. It is necessary for us to conquer obstacles like him in order to move to another level with God. Therefore, He will make sure that we are trained and prepared for these confrontations, as we continue to yield to Him. In return, we must never take the credit for ourselves; doing so only hastens our defeat. The Lord wants our humble devotion to Him alone, just like a child to his parents. David took only a simple sling and a few stones. Even though a sword, a shield, and full armor were readily available to him, he knew that he already had the ultimate protection: God Himself. When the giants come in our lives, we should not turn to man, but to God for our defense, wisdom, and strength, knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Psalm 46:1).

    In the final part of this series, we will look at the outcome of this impossible battle and how we can continue to overcome the Goliaths and the enemies that stand behind us and God as well.

    [Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) LoggaWiggler on Pixabay; Opening image by Claudio on Pixabay]