Refuge

Refuge 

Sept. 25 

“select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee.”

Numbers 35:11 NIV

Here’s something I was thinking about. Not sure where my kids learned this but whenever they are hurt or afraid they come to me or their Mom. We did not have to teach them this it just comes natural. Kids go to their parents when they need a safe place or refuge. So also, in the Old Testament God provided cities of refuge for people to flee to when they had accidentally killed someone. They could go to the city of refuge and take shelter within and be safe.

What about you? Do you have a place to go when in danger?

I must make a confession I needed a city of refuge. You see I killed a man and it was not even an accident. His name was Jesus. You see He died because I was a sinner. I am responsible for His death. And yet the irony of it is this, it is to Him alone that I must turn to find my refuge. There is no other safe place for me to hide. I must seek shelter and protection from my blood guilt in the very one who I crucified.

“so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

Hebrews 6:18 ESV

“Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land.”

Isaiah 32:1-2 NLT

Like me each of us is guilty. We all need a place of refuge. Jesus Christ is that place and there is no other. This is the good news that must be shared with the world. God has sent His Son to die in exchange for us. When the storm comes there is only one place to seek shelter, if you look for it in any other place you will be lost.

Lord the time is short, the storm is coming. Let your children be over burdened with the plight of the lost.  Let us love the world as you loved the world. Lord let us spend our time, energy and resources working to share your good news in the days that we have left. Amen