Matthew 28
20 Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
May we not only know this but believe and experience it.
The story is told of a man who got lost in the desert and wandered around aimlessly, looking for water. Time and again he would saw a mirage in the distance and go there only to be disappointed. When he had almost given up hope he saw palm trees in the distance and thought he heard water running. He walked slowly in that direction but was convinced it was only a mirage again. Because he did not believe that it could be real he did not put in his last strength to reach to place, so he only travelled a little distance in that direction, collapsed and died. A little while later two people passed him and saw him dead. The one said to the other, ‘It is so sad. He was so close to the water and the dates almost grew in his mouth”. The other added, ‘he was a modern intellectual man”.
Maybe you have been wandering in the desert spiritually for days, weeks, months or even years and your faith is gone. When you see God’s promises you do not believe them anymore. You have given up hope. Beware lest you doubt God when He gives you His promise. Accept, believe and enjoy Christ “with you always”.
Someone might be a drug addict or alcoholic. When Jesus wants to enter and deliver that person from their downward spiral, they refuse Him for they’re afraid they “might fall back again”. How are such doubts possible if you allow Jesus in your life? He is well able to deliver you and be “with you always”.
In Matt 14 we read how Jesus slept in the boat while the storm was raging. He rebuked His disciples “Oh! you of little faith”. They did not trust Jesus. He wanted to test their faith whether they were at perfect peace when Jesus was with them, even if He was asleep.
When Jesus is with you everything will turn out for the good. You can trust Him to the uttermost. When Jesus is in your boat nothing can happen to you, outside of His will, for you’re absolutely safe in the cleft of the Rock. You must just make sure that Jesus is in the boat with you.
Peter could step out to go to Jesus on the water, but when he doubted he began to sink. Jesus in His mercy stretched out His hand and saved him.
Jesus gave us so many promises.
Cry to the Lord that He would reveal Himself to you. Only be concerned with one thing – that your relationship with Him is right, then you can overcome through His power.
Let us read the promise of the Lord in Ps 91:14-16 to those who “dwell and abide in the secret place of the Most High”. He promises to be with you in trouble. Why are you troubled? He will even keep you in this day and age where so many forsake Him. He will show Himself faithful and worthy to be trusted to “save to the uttermost”, those who make Him their refuge.
During the persecutions hundreds of years ago, when the Christians were burnt at the stake, they could face their terrible death with peace and they could even sing, for Jesus was with them. The fire couldn’t do a thing to Daniel’s three friends for Jesus was with them in the fire. Not even the smell of fire was on them. The lions did not touch Daniel because the Son of God, Jesus, was with him.
Acts 4:13 “when they saw their boldness they understood that they had been with Jesus”. The way in which we talk, speak and live should testify to the fact that we had been with Jesus.
In Is 59 we read that God’s arm is not shortened that He cannot save and His ear that He cannot hear but your iniquities separates you from Him. Remove the wall that separates between you and the Lord and then He will dwell with you and you will be perfectly safe in the cleft of the Rock.