<p>An atheist once decided to climb a very high mountain. He relied only on his own strengths and not on God at all. He worked hard and built up a good physique ready enough to take the climb. He began climbing higher and higher. Below him was a valley with a gushing river. If he fell, he would fall to his death. But he continued the climb. Suddenly he slipped and came falling down. Luckily for him, the rope got entangled onto a protruding branch between the rocks. Fear gripped his heart. He did not dare to look down. Instead, he took a chance in calling upon God for help. “God, all these years I never believed in you. But now I am in deep trouble. Are you really there to help me now?” <br /><br />God answered “Yes, my son. I am here to help you”. God answered “Take your knife and cut the rope”. <br /><br />He retorted back in anger “I am asking you for help and you are ordering me to cut the rope. How can I ever do that?” <br /><br />God continued to ask him to cut the rope. The man refused to listen to the instructions of God. Early in the morning rescue workers passed by the valley to find this young man frozen dead, looking heavenward, but gripping tight to the rope. <br /><br />He was only five feet above the ground! <br /><br />If only the man listened to the voice of God, he would have been saved. God sees the whole world from His own vantage point. <br /><br />He looks upon us with great love and knows what is best for us. When we respond to His voice and to His directions, we experience true joy and deliverance from all harm.<br />The Psalmist presents to us God as a loving Shepherd who guides us from all harm “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for He is with me; with His rod and staff to comfort me (Psalm23). <br /><br />The Psalmist was deeply convinced in the all abiding presence of “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me”(Psalm 139) The book of Deuteronomy strengthens us further “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:5)<br /><br />Our greatest and permanent security is God. We often hold on to false securities like the man holding on to the rope. What are you holding on to? Take the knife and cut that rope.</p>
<p>An atheist once decided to climb a very high mountain. He relied only on his own strengths and not on God at all. He worked hard and built up a good physique ready enough to take the climb. He began climbing higher and higher. Below him was a valley with a gushing river. If he fell, he would fall to his death. But he continued the climb. Suddenly he slipped and came falling down. Luckily for him, the rope got entangled onto a protruding branch between the rocks. Fear gripped his heart. He did not dare to look down. Instead, he took a chance in calling upon God for help. “God, all these years I never believed in you. But now I am in deep trouble. Are you really there to help me now?” <br /><br />God answered “Yes, my son. I am here to help you”. God answered “Take your knife and cut the rope”. <br /><br />He retorted back in anger “I am asking you for help and you are ordering me to cut the rope. How can I ever do that?” <br /><br />God continued to ask him to cut the rope. The man refused to listen to the instructions of God. Early in the morning rescue workers passed by the valley to find this young man frozen dead, looking heavenward, but gripping tight to the rope. <br /><br />He was only five feet above the ground! <br /><br />If only the man listened to the voice of God, he would have been saved. God sees the whole world from His own vantage point. <br /><br />He looks upon us with great love and knows what is best for us. When we respond to His voice and to His directions, we experience true joy and deliverance from all harm.<br />The Psalmist presents to us God as a loving Shepherd who guides us from all harm “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for He is with me; with His rod and staff to comfort me (Psalm23). <br /><br />The Psalmist was deeply convinced in the all abiding presence of “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me”(Psalm 139) The book of Deuteronomy strengthens us further “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:5)<br /><br />Our greatest and permanent security is God. We often hold on to false securities like the man holding on to the rope. What are you holding on to? Take the knife and cut that rope.</p>