THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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I went to Nevada to preach a revival, and took nothing but 4 suits. Somehow, I hadn't thought about being in the country. The guys in that church thought they really had a "city boy" for a preacher. So they decided to take me on a jeep ride above the town on the mountain.
My driver was really "cutting a rusty" over the side of the mountain, and I knew that if he made one mistake we'd drop down into someone's house about 500 ft. below! He looked at me to see if I was holding on tightly. I must admit, I was a little nervous.
He asked, "Are you ok with this Bro. Bruce? I can turn back if you like."
I said, "Well, I'm ok. But I'd really rather drive, if you don't mind."
He asked, "Why?"
I said, "Because it may be your time to go, but I don't believe it's quite MY time to go!"
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Ps 31:5
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
KJV
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Notice first that David was careful to state that GOD had "redeemed" him.
Now, David, being an Old Testament prophet, didn't know about surrender by the cross. But he DID know about surrender to God. And by God's grace, through a commitment of faith, David had received God's promise of forgiveness, redemption and eternal life.
Every person's spirit is committed to God at death. Solomon wrote, "...then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Every soul shall return to God! And then God will be the Judge of the eternal state of that soul. All souls belong to God, and they are His to do with as He chooses.
The statement David is making in our text, is not a matter of whether the spirit is going to God for judgment. His statement is a matter of KNOWING that he has received forgiveness and redemption, and thus knowing that he will be granted eternal life WITH God.
Solomon also wrote, "if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be." (Eccl 11:3) It is certainly best to KNOW which way the spirit is going BEFORE it falls in death!!
Redemption is not something we attain or obtain. It is a gift from God, and to be received at HIS time! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The time God has set for redemption is NOW! Not later, at judgment day: Then, it will be too late. Therefore, we should be sure that our spirits are commited to Him NOW, and that we have already received forgiveness and redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
THEN, when death comes, we can face it with peace like David. We can say, "Into THY hands I commit my Spirit - you have redeemed me Oh Lord God of truth!"
Life is more peaceful, and death more gracious when we have ALREADY commited our spirits to Jesus' faithful hand. Confidence for eternity is based upon the realization of God's forgiveness and redemption.
Love ya,
Bruce