The Antidote for Life

 

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.” – Psalms 91:14-16

There are special blessings reserved for those that have made God their passion.  To those He gives deliverance from evil, and companionship.  He will be with them when trouble comes in a way that is felt and known, providing peace, and deliverance.  He will even extend their days, giving them not only more days, but contentment.  And He will “show him My salvation”, extending to Him the full value of the gift of salvation for all that it is worth both on this earth and for eternity.  He will honor those that love Him above those that choose to place their heart on others and other things.

There’s a common misconception that God does not show favoritism.  Perhaps because we are not to show favoritism to our children, we feel that God shouldn’t as well.  But God is God, and our nature is nothing like His nature.  Often, Romans 2:11 is quoted, which says “For there is no partiality with God”.  But the verse is taken out of context.  In context, that very verse substantiates the fact that God does treat those who love Him differently than those who don’t, speaking of His justice.   It states that He will “render to each according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). 

How did we get from loving God to our deeds?  Do we have an “out” in that we can claim to love God and yet not obey Him?  No, friends, we don’t.  It’s simple.  If you love God you obey Him.  John 14:15 says “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” 1 John 5:3 says “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” In Deuteronomy 5:33 and again in 6:18, Moses reflects on receiving God’s commandments and twice tells the people that if they obey it will be well with them.  He says “You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”

Consider what it would be like if God did not honor those that love Him more than those that don’t.  Would that be fair?  What if the most evil and vile criminal were given peace, deliverance, and contentment?  Would there be a benefit to serving God over serving our own lusts and desires?  Justice would not be in His character if He did not show those that love Him favor.  Proverbs 21:15 speaks of His justice as two-sided, saying “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”

To have deliverance from our struggles, to find peace, to have contentment with life and even longer life, we have to set our hearts upon Him.  These are the things that make life worth living – the true blessings of God.  Loving God is the antidote for life’s problems.