My Refuge

     Family and friends have often inquired as to why my husband and I drive 8 hours to reach St. George Island for a family vacation.  I smile and say it is "our happy place".  Located in the panhandle of our long state, this barrier island is known as "the forgotten coast".  White sand beaches, beautiful ocean panorama, and our favorite little sand crabs make this place unique and special in my heart.  Surprisingly, many Floridians don't know where St. George is located because we are a state filled with many lovely beaches.  However, for my husband and I, it is a refuge of sorts.  A place where our souls drink in the quiet beach that we have come to visit for many years.
 
   In reality, I think everyone has some special place they enjoy making a retreat to from time to time.  My in-laws loved a special fishing camp in Ignace, Ontario Canada that they went to for many years.  Certainly, it would not have been the only place to go and get away but for them, it too was a sort of refuge from the every day pressures.
     While vacation spots are much loved places to slow down, there is one Refuge we have with us all the time and everywhere we go and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.   One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 32.  David wrote this beautiful Psalm to contemplate sin, confession and forgiveness with the Lord.  Vs. 7-11 read:
    " 7You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

10Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
11Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"


There is no better description of God's tender care and love for us than this.  He is our hiding place where we can run any time of day or night.  He is our "shalom", our blessing, our deliverer, and He preserves us from trouble.  David knew this all too well for there were many occasions when he turned to the Lord in time of need.
     Furthermore, the Psalm assures us that the Lord will instruct us, counsel us and guide us by the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  What a comfort for us!  When Jesus ascended to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to live and dwell with those who believe.  While friends may let us down, the Lord will stay with us forever.
     Unlike the wicked who will experience sorrow for their sins, those who come to God in full repentance will know His love.  This kind of relationship is special and it reminds me of how my earthly father would always make room for me to sit in his easy chair at night with him while he watched the news.  God has time, room and love for us who follow Him.  That is why we can call Him our refuge.

Cape St. George Lighthouse

     On St. George Island, in the middle of the 28 mile long barrier island, stands the Cape St. George lighthouse.  It is not the original which was built in 1833 and then rebuilt in 1845.  Once again, it was claimed by a hurricane and had a third rebuilding.  The structure lasted 153 years before the Gulf of Mexico claimed it again.  Now, it is not a working lighthouse but a replica of the one that for many years provided light for mariners to show them the way home.  For Christians, our lighthouse, our refuge is found in the Lord Jesus Christ.  He points the way home for us as we walk in this world.  Let us never forget that He longs to fellowship with us daily and in our busy world, He provides the place of rest we need.  Selah!

Modeling Christ for Others

     When I think of our Savior Jesus Christ, I consider that He not only came to offer Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins, but also that He came to live the perfect life we were incapable of living in the fallen world.  He modeled for us perfect keeping of God's Laws and total obedience to God the Father.  As He said in Matthew 5:17-19:  17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  Later in Chapter 5, Jesus says, "You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."(vs. 48)  These words were spoken to His disciples so that they might know what was expected of them.
     However, Jesus knew that in our own strength and ability, we are incapable of walking as living examples of perfection; so when He ascended to the Father, He sent us the Holy Spirit who would abide with us and live in us.  He would be our helper that we might model Christ to the world.  After all, Jesus called us to be the salt and light of this world.  In our own strength we cannot do this.
     Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian Church, said in I Cor. 4:16:  "I urge you, then, be imitators of me."  Again in I Corinthians 11:1, he writes:  "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."  Then in his letter to the Philippians 3:17, Paul says again:  "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."  So why this emphasis on imitation?
     As believers, we are called upon to model Christ to the world and to those around us.  No matter where we are or what we do, we are to be living examples of our faith.  This is why Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth and Philippi to be imitators of him and other fellow disciples.
     Having just come home from a wonderful family vacation, I can give a very simple example of this concept.  Two of our children have three year olds.  They do a lot of modeling all day long by teaching their children how to be behave respectfully, what is appropriate behavior and what is not. They are rewarded for good behavior and lovingly disciplined for unacceptable actions.  In this way, they are learning what it means to function in relationship to others.  The same idea applies to our Christian walk.
     During my life, I have been blessed with many who have modeled Christ for me.  The earliest recollection I have of my Grandfather Engel, who died when I was six, was sitting on his lap as he read the Bible to me.  I saw him pray before he laid down for a nap.  These images have remained clearly fixed in my mind.  Then, my mother's encouragement to turn to the Psalms for help was another piece of the picture for me.
     Three months before my husband and I married, we committed our lives to Christ and were discipled by CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) at regular Bible studies.  We needed examples to follow and those who could answer our questions.  This was an important key to our growth in Christ so that we could then become mature and lead others.
     Whom are you modeling Christ for in your life?  Your children, grandchildren, fellow believers, co-workers, neighbors?  How we live our lives day to day reflects the depth of our commitment to Christ that others can clearly see.  For certain, we do not carry a sign around our neck that says, "How's my Christian living today?  Call 1-800-tellGod."  Yet, we bear the responsibility of being ambassadors for Christ daily.  My prayer is that we may all take this role of modeling our Savior's obedience, love and discipleship to others seriously so that the Kingdom of God may advance and be glorified.  Selah!