Saturday, October 11, 2014
Habakkuk 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
INSURED BY HIS LOVE
A short message from a short book ... the prophet Habakkuk.
The prophet Habakkuk was sent by God to speak to Judah, perhaps during the reign of King Josiah. We know very little about Habakkuk, except that he was another in a long line of prophets sent to warn and foretell the coming judgment of the LORD because of that nation's unfaithfulness to God.
Here, in the final verses of this book we see the confident faith of the Prophet Habakkuk, a confidence that we may all have in the Lord Christ. For Jesus, who is Jehovah, is the joy of our hearts and the strength of our lives, especially in this uncertain world.
This isn't mindless joy, being unaware of the realities of life, but the real happiness of those who know that God has through Jesus Christ, redeemed us for time and eternity.
Habakkuk concluded--like the Apostle Paul--that for one who trusts in Christ, no matter what happens on earth, heaven remains.
This confidence in the LORD Christ is a gift of the Lord Christ. Even in the worst of times we can rejoice in the LORD Jesus because our heavenly bank account is full.
There is a heavenly mansion in my future because the LORD is the God of my salvation.
Even now we can rejoice in the LORD because of what He has done for us. When trouble comes, instead of focusing on the trouble, let us remember the tribulation that Jesus endured to win for us eternal joy.
No matter how cloudy and depressing the day, the Scripture still declares loud and clear: "Christ loves you, and gave himself for you ... to make you His own."
When we consider what we deserve and recall what God chose to do--hold Christ accountable for our sins--we are moved not to say, "How could you let this happen to me?" but rather "How could you do this for me?" Truly, Christ's unchanging love is the reason for our confidence. The cross of Christ is our insurance for the future.
