It was a dark and stormy night . . . well, actually it was a bright, sunny dayafter a dark and stormy night—but there were lots of puddles all over the place. I had just turned out of the driveway to the concrete plant I work at and onto the county road and had jammed my foot onto the throttle peddle when I noticed an obstruction waddling down the road. There was a very large Canada goose gander right on the double yellow line, marching along in front of his mate. As I eased up to him he began to set up a ruckus, arching his neck, flapping his wings and honking as loudly as he could.
“Honk! Honk, honk, honk!” he said, which translates as, I’m guarding my mate and if you take one step closer you’ll have to answer to me, eh! (Oh, puh-lease! Well Heckler, he is a Canada goose after all. Why shouldn’t he end his sentences with, “Eh?”)
“Outta my way, Dopey!” I bellowed out of the driver-side window of my truck.
“Honk-honk-honk-honk!” Make way cheeky human, or I’ll nip you something fierce, eh!
“Look, you’re impeding intra-state commerce, now step aside.”
He reared back on his feet and stuck his head way up high in the air. “Honk-honk-honk-honk-honk!” You are on your way to a good thrashing!
“Lookit buster—I’ve got 325 horses under the hood that say you’re one stomp on the throttle away from my freezer!” (You wouldn’t dare! Oh, do be quiet Heckler. I didn’t see you there to help me bluster my way past this road hog.)
“Honk. Honk. Honk. HONK!” I’m bigger, badder, and LOUDER!
“Oh, you think?” I reached up and grabbed the chain to my air horn. Twin horns blared down at this proud little soul. “HWOOOONK!” This, along with the fact that my truck is twelve feet tall and tips the scales at a little shy of eighty-thousand pounds, made the gander decide that discretion is the better part of valor. He gathered up his smaller mate and shuffled off the side of the road into an inviting puddle. He did continue to fuss—I’m quite sure he was discussing my personal hygiene in no uncertain terms. I believe he feels I fall quite short of gander standards.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
This brave little soul was willing to fight to protect his mate—but only up to a point. Someone came along who was able to honk their way past his bluster. He wasn’t quite ready to die to protect her. We, on the other hand, have One Who is willing to protect us fully.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.John 15:12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
One Who does love us enough lay down His life for us.
Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
It is finished—for the adversary. Our protection is complete in Messiah.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.John 8:28-29 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Luke 24:1-6a Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen
He is risen, indeed.
Shalom u’vrachah – Peace and the Blessing
Tim
Other verses to meditate on
(Not in any particular order)
Psalms 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Romans 14:8-9 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Christian Hope - It's about Him! 