Trust me...

Have you ever been totally suckered?

You trusted someone, maybe a salesperson, and in the end, you completely regretted trusting them because you ended up getting stuck with a defective product, or a policy you don’t need, or stuck in a contract you don’t want.

When Nikki and I were first married, we ended up buying a timeshare in Hawaii.

We saw the brochure at the mall.

We went to the presentation where they showed us videos of people at the resorts smiling, laughing, and enjoying one another’s company; all in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

While we were signing the paperwork, the salesperson said, “you are going to love this; trust me.”

This fish bought it, hook, line, and sinker.

The next morning, it occurred to me that I might want to google where our new vacation spot was going to be.

I had to look a few times because a few things concerned me.

First, it looked like they hadn’t even begun building the resort.

Second, the property appeared to be located uncomfortably close to one of the world’s most active volcanos.

I think volcanos are pretty cool (ok, bad choice of words) but molten rock is not my idea of a balcony view.

We learned a valuable lesson, be very careful who you trust.

Psalm 31, is, at its core, an expression of trust.

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. (Psalm 31:3-5 ESV)

David is describing the many times in which God delivered David from harm during his life. He gives us a vivid picture of being trapped in a net, and God rescuing him from it.

The Lord had shown Himself to be faithful to David time and time again, therefore, David says, “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.”

David places his eternal well being into the hands of the God who has demonstrated His faithfulness.

Interestingly, this phrase occurs again, but in a very different context.

When Christ died on the cross, He said the same thing.

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46 ESV)

In both cases, there is an expression of trust.

In David’s case, God had repeatedly saved David’s life. So David is praising God for preserving his life here on earth.

In Jesus’s situation, He is breathing His last, Jesus is entrusting His spirit into the eternal care of His Father.

Both can help us to be deeply encouraged.

Both examples illustrate two sides of the same coin.

On the one hand, God has been faithful, time and time again, to deliver us from harm. God has delivered many of us from harm more times than we can remember, and perhaps more times than we know.

On the other hand, God knows the number of our days. He knows the day He has appointed to bring us out of this world and call us to Himself.

In both instances, He can be trusted. In other words, we can trust God with our lives, and we can trust Him for the end of our lives.

We can rest our heads on our pillows tonight knowing that, whatever may come, we can commit our spirits into His hands.

Keep safe, be well, and stay encouraged.

Brian