The Ark of His Grace

Greetings, you "overachievers"!

All of you who think "it's never good enough".  All of you who always "bite off more than you can chew" because you want every, single moment of your life to be highly significant.

I know you. I know you, because I am you.

If we are not careful, we will find the waves of this season, this LIFE, sweeping us off our feet, washing over our heads, paralyzing our lungs, dashing us onto the perilous rocks.  

When you've had less than 6 hours of sleep

When you are having your devotions between work assignments (observing teachers today)

When you have 135 half-tagged soap dispenser gifts in your car, unready for this afternoon's delivery

When, at 11:15 p.m. last night you swallowed your pride and begged your husband to clean up the dinner dishes  (and thank the sweet Lord, he did!)

When you are behind in your grading

When you are behind in your shopping

When you don't know your music for the Christmas program

When you feel a cold coming on

When your neck is tight and your stomach sour because your loved one just told you he has to have surgery

When nothing is on the news except news which terrifies and we think, "my child's future?"

All of the above

When you think the waves of this day, this week, this season are going to roll right over you...

Climb aboard, and breathe.  Breathe in great, deep draughts of your Lord.

When the fountains of the deep burst open and the tears of a holy, broken-hearted God rained down upon the earth, there was an ark.  The rampant sin that had so swallowed up nearly every family on the face of the earth, that had corrupted nearly every family's human bloodline broke the huge heart of God.  Because the human race was on the brink of total destruction from its sin, because His boundless heart breaks for what hurts us ...

His heart was filled with pain.  

Genesis 6:6

There is still an ark today, and His name is Jesus.  Climb aboard, Christian.  You have found favor with the Lord.  You have a safe harbor in the Lord.  This is His magnificent, matchless gift to you!

When we climb aboard His ark of refuge, as we go about our daily walk of faith, He assures us that He is there for us in the midst of life's very worst circumstances.  

I read a comment on Facebook recently.  It was from a new widow.  Her Facebook friend had commented that this great lady was missed in an activity they had formerly shared.  The widow assured her friend that she will be back.  But, for now, she is in a time of pulling back as she weathers the storm, wrapped in her Savior's arms.  God's grace and peace wait for her there.  They wait there for you and me too.

Don't you ever believe that our God is some remote, disinterested monarch, watching us from a distance.  No.  

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

"15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:15-16

That's my Jesus!  Climb aboard the ark of His grace!  

Lord, I am so grateful that we find ourselves nearly suffocated by our efforts to "walk worthy", you teach us to breathe.  You beckon us to come and let the ark of You be our refuge, to let it buoy us and refresh us.  You shower Your grace all over us in that place.  It is there You remind us that Your grace is sufficient for all moments, both beautiful and terrible.  Thank you for holding us securely, in Your loving embrace of grace, while the storm passes by.  In Jesus' name, amen.