Many, whom others thought would not make it, will be saved. They would have sincerely prayed the Publican’s prayer, believed like the Centurion, and reached out to Jesus like the thief on the cross. They touched the hem of His garment and were made whole. They accepted the wedding garment of Jesus’ righteousness so their sins were all covered. Yes, though stained by the blight of sin, they made sure that a corresponding credit of pardon was written beside their deeds. They humbled themselves and allowed Jesus to work His transforming power in their lives.

Daniel knew that the judgment was coming because God revealed His secret to Daniel (Daniel 7:9). He was assured that it wouldn’t happen in his time but it was certain. As he was permitted to view down the corridors of time, Daniel must have shivered at all that would transpired. He was comforted to see the ending. The court was set and the devil’s dominion would be taken away forever.

Like the process of physical immunization, in the spiritual realm, we needed an immunogen. God in His wisdom knew that the only way we would survive is to have this needed vaccination. He sent Jesus to be our immunogen. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. Praise the Lord! The immunization process is complete. But God did even more.

Salt can loose its savor and when it does, it is good for nothing. No sensible person would use salt that cannot flavor. Similarly, as Christians, we cannot behave like the world. We must be different. While we mingle with the world, we must not allow ourselves to be led astray. Should this happen, there will be no sanctifying power to diffuse the darkness. As God’s children, we cannot be seen as whoremongers, murders, liars, sexual immoral, idolaters, or abominable. We cannot be like them. We should be the example, the light, the salt.

Our sinful desires to tear down and put down each other, speak evil of one another, gossip and engage in tale-bearing: are all symptoms which show that we do not regard each other as brothers. No one would willfully and intentionally kill their father’s child. So, why do it to God’s child? Gossiping and tale-bearing destroys unity and genuineness of friendships. Resentment and hatred should not be harbored in hearts that are preparing for Heaven. We are brothers and sisters.

It’s one thing to have a death threat hanging over your head by the government or anyone else. But a death threat from within the body of believers is frightening. Such was Lazarus’ experience. He was the next best choice since he was responsible for many Jews believing in Jesus. In Jamaican Creole we say: “If yu kian catch quako yu catch im shut”, meaning if you are unable to get to the person you need, you will take the next best. Since Jesus was proving to be so ‘slippery’ to their grasp, they would take Lazarus instead and make him a public example of what will happen to all who believe in Jesus. Imagine that, the leaders of the Church, who are appointed to be the intercessors between God and man on Earth, planning to murder?

Most importantly, we should commit our ways to God and allow Him to lead and direct our lives. For all encounters, pleasant and unpleasant ones, let’s ask ourselves the question: What would Jesus do? How would He handle the matter? We can be assured that we will receive an immediate answer. Listen for the response because His promise is certain:

Since we find it a joy (for others-we do out of compulsion) to obey most civil laws because of the freedom they affords, shouldn’t we be more than happy to obey God’s laws that offers us peace in all situations? His promise to us is that nothing will offend us; nothing will cause us to stumble when we do. God’s laws are his faithful instructions to us found in His word. They will provide guidance in the way we should ‘drive on the road of life’ so that we will not get derailed and loose our way. Just as we are happy to follow the Road Code, we will be happiest when we love His law.

The Comforter wasn’t just for the disciples back them – He is for us today as well! As parents, we can rest assured that our kids will continue to hold onto the faith that we instilled in them, while they were home. We can draw comfort from God’s words that they will not depart from the training given; that Jesus Christ will become even dearer to them in this their period of separation from home.

Knowing Him and the fellowship of His sufferings: like the three Hebrew boys, like Job, like Abraham, we can know that He will deliver, and if He chooses not to deliver, He will be with us in our fiery trials. He will take us through. The fellowship of knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us is so assuring, so we can obey His instructions with a willing heart.