Author: Phil Bray, Senior Pastor at MaconFBC | April 18, 2024
God’s Help is Better
Politics always seems to bring out the worst in people. The news cycle is continually filled with disparaging and depressing stories and statistics about the failed policies of the opposite political party’s candidate. A toxic level of fear mongering happens from all sides. Unless we elect our party’s candidate the world will come to an end. We elevate the status of men to Messiah and Savior as if their policies and charisma will save the world and rescue us from certain ruin - a ruin created by the opposite political ideology.
We become angry, frightened, and continually anxious. We are always on the look for the next political messiah as if their help will be the help that finally rescues us. Yet, they always disappoint, they always fail to deliver on their promises. They inevitably prove to have feet of clay. The Psalmist prays, “Oh give us help against the enemy, for rescue by man is worthless.” (Ps 60:11). The rescue that comes from the hand of a man, any man, regardless of political party is worthless. Why is that? What is it about the rescue man provides that is worthless and good for nothing?
When man rescues you do not stay rescued! Threats inevitably rise again, and again, and again. We are extremely vulnerable, fragile, and helpless against the seemingly endless waves of trouble. A second reason that the rescue of man is worthless is because men are untrustworthy, fickle, and intentionally deceptive. How often have humans acquiesced to human power in order to be rescued from a foreign enemy only to have that same power then used against them in the future? Men lie. Men deceive. Men are untrustworthy. Men regularly do what is in their best interest rather than the ultimate best interest of those whom they are rescuing. A third reason human rescue is worthless because the rescue is only useful in preventing death for a season. The rescue is temporary and susceptible to reversal if another man becomes more powerful than the one rescuing you. Fourth, the rescue of man is worthless because men almost always expect a favor in return. I scratch your back, and you scratch mine at some point in the future. There is always a catch, a catch that we often overlook because our situation is desperate.
My friends, the rescue of God is better! The help of the Lord Jesus Christ is better! There is no catch. Jesus saves from a posture of grace. He gives what is not deserved! He never expects a tit for tat payback for the merciful help He provides! Jesus rescues with a power that overcomes even death! Not even death can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 8:38-39)! The worst that man can do to us is kill us. Jesus can and does reverse death with a mere snap of his fingers.
Jesus will not change. He is the same yesterday today and forever! He is ever trustworthy. He is who He claims to be. He does what He promises He will do. He will never bait and switch you with His help. He is just, good, and kind. His help is what it appears to be, every single time! Finally, when Jesus rescues us, we stay rescued! When we rely on Jesus, trusting in Him in full surrender He gives us eternal life! He gives us gladness, peace, and joy that abides in our hearts regardless of circumstances. He will do what is right and all things will be made right in the end. The glory that He is bringing is not even worth comparing with the temporary suffering we may experience in this life (Rom 8:18, 28)!
When you are tempted to fear and despair over the state of our country, stop. Remember that the rescue of Jesus is better than the rescue of any man or woman. The rescue of man is worthless. Remember that “Some praise their chariots and some their horses, but we will praise the name of the LORD, our God” (Ps 20:7)!
Politics always seems to bring out the worst in people. The news cycle is continually filled with disparaging and depressing stories and statistics about the failed policies of the opposite political party’s candidate. A toxic level of fear mongering happens from all sides. Unless we elect our party’s candidate the world will come to an end. We elevate the status of men to Messiah and Savior as if their policies and charisma will save the world and rescue us from certain ruin - a ruin created by the opposite political ideology.
We become angry, frightened, and continually anxious. We are always on the look for the next political messiah as if their help will be the help that finally rescues us. Yet, they always disappoint, they always fail to deliver on their promises. They inevitably prove to have feet of clay. The Psalmist prays, “Oh give us help against the enemy, for rescue by man is worthless.” (Ps 60:11). The rescue that comes from the hand of a man, any man, regardless of political party is worthless. Why is that? What is it about the rescue man provides that is worthless and good for nothing?
When man rescues you do not stay rescued! Threats inevitably rise again, and again, and again. We are extremely vulnerable, fragile, and helpless against the seemingly endless waves of trouble. A second reason that the rescue of man is worthless is because men are untrustworthy, fickle, and intentionally deceptive. How often have humans acquiesced to human power in order to be rescued from a foreign enemy only to have that same power then used against them in the future? Men lie. Men deceive. Men are untrustworthy. Men regularly do what is in their best interest rather than the ultimate best interest of those whom they are rescuing. A third reason human rescue is worthless because the rescue is only useful in preventing death for a season. The rescue is temporary and susceptible to reversal if another man becomes more powerful than the one rescuing you. Fourth, the rescue of man is worthless because men almost always expect a favor in return. I scratch your back, and you scratch mine at some point in the future. There is always a catch, a catch that we often overlook because our situation is desperate.
My friends, the rescue of God is better! The help of the Lord Jesus Christ is better! There is no catch. Jesus saves from a posture of grace. He gives what is not deserved! He never expects a tit for tat payback for the merciful help He provides! Jesus rescues with a power that overcomes even death! Not even death can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 8:38-39)! The worst that man can do to us is kill us. Jesus can and does reverse death with a mere snap of his fingers.
Jesus will not change. He is the same yesterday today and forever! He is ever trustworthy. He is who He claims to be. He does what He promises He will do. He will never bait and switch you with His help. He is just, good, and kind. His help is what it appears to be, every single time! Finally, when Jesus rescues us, we stay rescued! When we rely on Jesus, trusting in Him in full surrender He gives us eternal life! He gives us gladness, peace, and joy that abides in our hearts regardless of circumstances. He will do what is right and all things will be made right in the end. The glory that He is bringing is not even worth comparing with the temporary suffering we may experience in this life (Rom 8:18, 28)!
When you are tempted to fear and despair over the state of our country, stop. Remember that the rescue of Jesus is better than the rescue of any man or woman. The rescue of man is worthless. Remember that “Some praise their chariots and some their horses, but we will praise the name of the LORD, our God” (Ps 20:7)!