Our Deliverer Continues His Promise

Today's Scripture is one of those that's known, but is not readily recalled, even though the Promise is one that from here on will become a foundation for many, because it emphasizes just how close God is to us once we've made the effort to seek Him for relationship.

Paul is telling us in the beginning of his second epistle to the Corinthian Church that we are all certain to suffer eternal judgment if we choose to rely upon ourselves for our salvation (II Cor. 1:9). But if we will divest ourselves of such arrogance and choose to trust "in God Who raises the dead," the verse says, then we receive the Promise of II Cor. 1:10 (insertions mine), "Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in Whom we (can) trust that He will still (continue) to deliver us."

"So great a death" is referring to how continually agonizing and horrible eternity will be in hell for those who choose such a fate. Yes, for those who choose such a fate, for God is not predisposed to sentence any person to endure such incomprehensible suffering. His heart is that none should perish, but all have everlasting life. In order to receive God's judgment, a person has to willingly spit on His grace. Sadly, many have and many more are choosing even now to do just that, even though they and those who love them the most are the only ones who suffer from such an incredibly stupid choice.

To the rest of us who choose to exercise the slightest modicum of sense, however, God is telling us in today's verse that He not only will deliver us from judgment, but will stay by our side to do so on even an hourly basis, if that's what it requires to take care of us, and will always do so until He returns to take us home with Him - forever.