Text: Isaiah 43:1-7
Title: No, Never Alone
INTRODUCTION
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus the savior of the world promised that He would be with us always until the end of time. Jesus made this promise to the disciples because He realized they were scared and confused and needed comfort in their moment of uncertainty, thus He set out to assure them that neither death, nor life, angels, or principalities, powers and wickedness can keep them from His love.
This amazing promise provided comfort for the disciples and energized them to push forth the Christian movement and spread the good news of the gospel. This promise provided them with the strength they would need to overcome adversity, face wicked men, and triumph over difficulties for the sake of the Gospel. The promise provided them with the hope that they will see the Master again. And the promise provided them with power which was demonstrated at Pentecost when they spoke in tongue, and demonstrated in the City of Joppa where Peter raised Tabitha from the dead.
This same promise is what keeps you and I from losing our minds when trouble knocks on our door steps. This promise is what keeps us keeping on when the going gets tough. This promise is what causes us to shout even when the bills are not paid. This promise is what makes us sing with joy even at a funeral of a loved one. This promise is what helps us to endure hardships, to withstand betrayal from our friends, and to suffer set backs after setbacks even as we wait for our comebacks.
Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you an air of invincibility that non Christians cannot understand. Non believers cannot understand why we are so hopeful and optimistic about life even though our options are limited. They cannot understand why we think we can overcome diseases for which the scientific community hasn’t found a cure. They cannot understand why we come together on Sunday morning to make such a big deal out of a God we cannot see.
Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you everlasting peace. Folks can and will act up around you, yet you are cool, calm, and collected because of the peace of God which surpasses all understanding that resides in you. With this peace you don’t need to lose your composure because you know that in the end all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord…With this peace you don’t have to go around seeking revenge because you know that God will fight your battles and give you victory. With this peace you don’t have to stay up at night worrying about things that are beyond your control. You just let God take care of them as you get a good night sleep.
Just to know that Jesus is with you always gives you endurance. People who trust in the everlasting presence of Jesus Christ in their lives don’t ever give up. They may take a licking but they will keep on ticking. The road may get rough, but they will ride the waves like a California surfer. They may be hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed, because of the everlasting presence of God in their lives.
SETTING THE STAGE
In our text this morning, the Lord is using the prophet Isaiah to remind the children of Israel that He is still on their side. You see, sometimes things can get so bad in your life that you start believing that God has turned against you. Sometimes you can get so hurt by folks and so overwhelmed by your circumstance that you actually feel like cursing God and die. There are times that God feels so far away that you feel so alone and forsaken as to contemplate suicide. In times like these we have to remember that God is our very present help in times of danger. In times like these we have to remember what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear. In times like these we have to remember He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5).
Simply stated, God was reminding the children of Israel that they haven’t messed up bad enough for Him to forsake them. That’s good news for us. What that tells us is that no matter how far down we get and no matter how low we go, God will not forsake us. He may chastise us but He will not abandon us. He may rebuke and reprove us but He will not allow the enemy to destroy us.
Though the children of Israel messed up, God was not willing to walk away from them. Instead He sought to remind them of His everlasting presence and His amazing love; and provide them with three essential guarantees:
1. They are Saved
2. They are Secured
3. They are Special
THEY ARE SAVED
Some of us may have been in church for so long that we don’t truly appreciate what it means to be saved. Well let me remind you what salvation means.
1.Your eternal destination in heaven is guaranteed
2.You belong to God
3.Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life and no one can wipe it off
4.Salvation is not possible without Christ
Salvation is free but it is not cheap. Jesus shed His blood for our salvation. He laid it all on the light so that we may have the right to the tree of life. Salvation is the fulfillment of God’s promise in John 3:16.
Without salvation our lives would not worth living. Without salvation our religion would be meaningless. Without salvation our joy would not be made complete. Salvation gives us something to look forward to.
And just in case that doesn’t excite you, I want you to know that salvation makes all the difference in the world. For, no matter how bad you might be and no matter how broke and disgusted you get, one thing no one can change or take away from you is the fact that you are saved. They can take away your job, they can malign your reputation, they can take away your health and wealth, but they can never take away your salvation. Jesus sealed the deal at Calvary. He paid the price so we will never have to worry about losing our salvation. The Devil can huff and puff all he wants, but he can’t take away our salvation. (Tell your neighbor, thank God I’m saved, I know I’m saved, and the devil can’t do a thing about it).
It is here then that God reminds the Israelites that their rebelliousness will have no impact on their salvation because of the covenant He made with their ancestors Abraham. Because of Abraham, the Israelites will have the favor of God. Because of Abraham they will enjoy the presence of God. Likewise, because of Jesus, we who Christians will have the favor of God. We will be saved based upon the righteousness of Jesus and not our own.
THEY ARE SECURED
Security was a very important issue to the Israelites. They experienced constant attacks and lived under the threat of total annihilation. They needed security. Not just any kind of security but Divine security. So God promised to be with them when they pass through the waters and be their life guard. Water is employed in numerous biblical similes and metaphors describing instability, loss of strength (being ‘poured out,’ Job 3:24 ; Ps. 22:14 ), and melting away in fear. In other words, God was letting them know that when their lives become unstable, when they feel weak and afraid He will be right there by their side. In the same manner:
1. When we experience instability in our job, we have to turn to God
2. When we experience instability in our relationships, we have to turn to God
3. When we experience instability in our ministry, we have to turn to God
4. When we feel our strength slipping away from us and fear is taking over, remember the Lord is our rock and our refuge. He will not forsake us.
In verse 2, God also promised to be their life vest ("When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:)." How many times in your life did you feel like you were drowning but you called on the name of Jesus and He rescued you. The Lord is our life vest. Behold, He will not allow us to drown. We may drink a little water, but we will not drown. We may feel like we are running out of oxygen, but we will not drown. For, He is our life vest.
In that same verse He promised to be their Sprinkler system ("when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee"). Sprinkler systems are designed to produce water when the heat from the fire reaches the automatic sensor which then signals the valve to send water immediately to cool down the room and put out the fire.
God is our Divine sprinkler system. Whenever the heat gets too intense in our lives He sends Divine water to cool us off and put out the fire. He doesn’t allow us to get burn. Our clothes may get singed and we may even sweat a little, but He won’t let us get burn; for, He is our Sprinkler system.
THEY ARE SPECIAL
There are a lot of people walking around who don’t know they are special. There are people who believe all the negatives stuff that people say about them and buy into the garbage that they’re not worth a thing.
Don’t let people’s opinion of you determine your future. Folks can think whatever they want about you, they can treat you however way they want, but you need to know that you are special to God. Your husband or wife may not make you feel special, your boyfriend or girlfriend may not make you feel special, your friend and co-workers may not make you feel special, but God knows that you are special. You may be fat and short, tall and skinny, nappy hair with thick glasses, big head with thick lips, flat nose with big ears, you are still special to God.
In verse 4 God reminded the Israelites that they are precious to Him. Some of you needed to be reminded that you are precious to God. You need to know that ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no army strong enough, ain’t no demon powerful enough to keep God from getting to you and rescuing you.
You are so precious to God that He gave His only begotten son for you. You are so precious to God that Jesus traded glory in Heaven for earthly suffering in order to redeem you. You are so special to God that He neither slumbers nor sleeps as He keeps watch over you just to make sure that the enemy doesn’t hurt you. You are so special that He has prepared a great feast to celebrate your arrival in heaven and has destined you for spiritual greatness.
CONCLUSION
Though your tears may fall and your years may be sorrowful, know that you are never alone. Though the storm clouds may rise and strong winds may blow, know that you are never alone. Though the heaven shall shake and the earth shall reel, know that you are never alone.
The hymnologist says:
I’ve seen the lightning flashing and heard the thunder roll
I’ve felt sins breakers dashing, Which tried to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, He bid me still fight on
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone
Chorus
No Never alone, No never alone,
He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone
No Never alone, No never alone
I like the way the Lord close out this text. He us 5 I will statements (5 is the number of favor)
1.I will give other people in your place (That speaks of your worth and uniqueness)
2.I will give other nations to save your life ( That speaks of your cost and your position)
3.I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west (That speaks of Divine restoration)
4.I will tell the North to give my people to me (That speaks of our eternal inheritance)
5.I will tell the South: Don’t keep my people in prison (That speaks of our final destination)
Why is God doing all of that? Because we were made for His glory. He can’t get the glory from us if we are in mental or physical prison (represented by the south). He can’t get the glory from us if we are in spiritual exile (represented by the North). He made us for His glory; and by gosh I want to praise Him for His eternal presence.
I don’t know about you, but I know I’m secured, I’m special, and I’m saved. For living He loved me, dying He saved me, rising He took all my sins far away. And now I’m never alone. In the midnight hour, I’m not alone. On my sick bed, I’m never alone. Thank God, I’m never alone, no never alone.
