Jesus, Our City Of Refuge

Psalm 46:1

Hard times are inevitable, and the pressures that accompany them are as guaranteed as the rising of the sun. Christ assured us of this when He said, "In this world you will have troubles (John 16:33)." The question, therefore, is not will I find myself in hard times; rather, where will I find my refuge when hard times find me? The Psalmist answers this question when he declared, "The Lord is a refuge, an ever present help in a time of trouble (Psalm 46:1)." Underline those words in red, "an ever present help." Not a distant city, or a refuge out of reach, but an ever present one; a city of refuge no farther than a bent knee and a contrite heart. We read in the Old Testament that the Lord had provided six cities of refuge: Kadesh, Shechem, and Hebron (west of the Jordan), and Golan, Ramoth-Gilead, and Bezer (east of the Jordan). These cities where established so those who had unintentionally killed another might find asylum from the "avenger of blood (Joshua 20:3);" In other words, the relatives of the murdered victim, who were still hot with vengeance, would not be able to take your life so long as you resided in the city of refuge. Those who found themselves inside the city walls were assured safety and freedom from those who sought their demise. While those found outside the city walls had nothing more than the uncertainty of their survival. In the same way, those without Christ desperately strive, without hope, to reach their man made havens. However, these shelters, which are nothing more than decrepit structures weakened by the very lack of faith that built them, are always out of reach. No matter how far we journey, or how long we seek, we are never assured that we will ever find rest within their walls. The simple truth is, without Christ, all our plans for self preservation are flawed. In the end, when Christ returns, our man made havens will prove to be no sturdier than a house built upon the sand. Jesus is our city of refuge unlike any other, for He is a city of refuge that seeks us. No longer do we need to run from our adversaries, struggling to reach the walls of safety. No longer is our rest a distant city arduously journeyed towards in fear of being captured. Jesus is a city of refuge who seeks the weary, where ever we are. In the clutches of sin, in the darkness – void of light, He is there; a city brightly lit. His gates are opened wide; waiting to provide shelter for all in troubled times. Are days of trouble nipping at your heals? Are you desperately searching for a distant shelter from your enemies? Look no farther; the city of refuge has already found you. Enter His gates with praise; your case has all ready been decided, and you have been found innocent in the blood of the lamb. No travel required; the journey was over before it began, for Jesus Christ is our ever present city of refuge.   [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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