“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
Psalm 23:6
Have you ever felt like you’re being followed?
While living in Queens, New York I used to go jogging late at night or early in the morning. I’m kind of a night owl so dusk and dawn were often the times I had available to stay in shape (not to mention that New York sidewalks are easier to run on when no one is on them). I had the music in my headphones and the sound of my own breathing as my mute to the cityscape around me. As nice as that was there was often one thing that loomed in the back of my mind…the possibility that someone was following me.
We’ve all been there.
Whether you imagined it as a kid, watched one too many creepy movies, or walked towards your car in the supermarket parking lot with the soccer mom minivan stalking you…the truth is most of us have wondered and then peered over our shoulder.
I’ve often noticed that to be a common perspective people hold of God. For whatever reason they believe God to be a ticked off old guy with a big stick of wrath looking to come down on anyone that doesn’t carry a Bible or pray for several hours a day. Although God does have wrath and holds the authority to judge, He isn’t out to get us…at least not in the scary stalker type of way. David tells us here that, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” You see, it’s not judgment and wrath that are following you; it’s the goodness and mercy of the Lord that is looking to catch up to you in your lifetime.
During the Battle of Spires, between the French and Prussians, Napoleon had ordered all medical personnel to be stationed two and half miles back from where the battle was being waged. The chief physician became distressed at the increasing amount of deaths due to the fact that many of the wounded couldn’t be cared for until the hostilities ceased. In turn, he designed “ambulance volantes” or flying ambulances, the speedier four wheeled carriages were able to cruise in and out of the scene of battle and usher the dying to safety.
We too have a Chief Physician who became concerned with the mounting reality of death in a world of sin. He too designed a speedy and effective way to rescue the endangered from the grave. With the wheels of goodness and mercy under His carriage of grace, Jesus Christ came and delivered our sin struck bodies from death and brought us back to life.
Perhaps you’ve been fighting for life
You’re on the frontlines of a failing marriage, or facing the enemy of sickness, maybe even gunned down by loss or addiction.
Whatever the case, take a good hard look over your shoulder and realize that the Lord is following you…available to tend to your needs.
Simply raise your hands to Him, believe in His goodness and receive His mercy.
You’ll do more than just fight another day…You’ll live to experience His victory!
Browse Timeline
- « Psalm 23:5b “…My Cup Runs Over.”
- » And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever! (Psalm 23:6)
