“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/psa.23.1-6.NKJV
I think Psalms 23 is the greatest chapter in the Bible because it truly illustrates how Christ is the Good Shepard in life and in death. When one trusts God fully, they know they have absolutely nothing to fear. They understand they are merely camping on this earth. This place is not their permanent home. While we are visiting we can take comfort knowing God is there guiding us if we let Him.
Perhaps that’s why I do not fear death or any potential threats on this earth. I take each day gracefully and accept tomorrow is purely in God’s hands. When my appointment time comes to meet with Christ, I know I will fair out perfectly fine. My trust in Christ is so secure that I know He will guide me even in death. I don’t worry about what could happen to me because I know God will never give me anything I cannot handle. If I do have fear, it means that my trust in Christ is not strong enough. I must have doubt(s) deep inside that need to be resolved. Fear means I don’t have inner peace which is the core of the Holy Spirit within me. Again, this is a trust issue that I must pray to seek assistance on how to resolve it.
What saddens me is when I see those dying fighting to remain here on earth. It usually tells me their roots are too implanted on this world. They are afraid and/or angry because they truly do not know what is coming next. Perhaps a few are afraid to leave because they are afraid to meet their maker? Some are angry because their worldly stuff is going to soon be gone? Maybe they are afraid because their trust in Christ is not strong enough? Maybe they are afraid they may never see their loved ones again? Conversely, the few I know who are dying and have full trust in Christ go very peacefully. They are neither afraid nor angry. As a matter of fact, they have a beautiful smile on their face and a glow that one cannot forget.
Do not be afraid! Remember “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). Trust Christ fully and hand your future to Him. He will guide you through the valley safely. When you approach the Judgement Seat of Christ, know that your sins are forgiven as Christ paid for them on the cross. The only assessment from God you will receive is how you chose to spend your time here on earth and how much time was spent for His glory. You are saved but the degrees of rewards given depend on the amount of time you spent on this earth for His glory. Anything that was not for His glory is burned up and worthless (I Corinthians 3:9-15). Either way, you remain safe and loved by God when you fully trust and follow Him. He is a Good Shepard. It’s a win-win for you when you trust Christ fully deep within you.
Father,
Thank you for Your strength and guidance. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who gives me peace and assurance that I will be cared for while I reside in this temporary home. The poles on my camping spot on this earth must remain loose as I am only here for a short
time. I need to remind myself of that especially when I am afraid of potential danger or pending death. You are my rock which I build my foundation. My sole focus and trust remains with You. Please use me for Your Glory and convict me when I wonder. The path to You is narrow and I need your help to not fall off the road. I love You and trust
You fully. My future is completely in Your loving hands and that’s why I do not fear. Amen.
by Kent Brosh a Kawaiaha’o Blog Contributor
Alberta, Canada
