Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won’t you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

(Songwriter: James B. Coats)

When troubling circumstances become so great we feel cornered, hemmed in from all sides physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually; where can we go? We’re stuck, thinking what will we do next?  We think, how do we defend ourselves from something that happened accidentally without malice for anyone? Evil leaps at a chance to dismantle our faith in God at these pressure points in our lives.  When we realize this, whether evil was involved in the trouble or not, troubles will test the strength of our resolve and commitment to the Lord.  As evil leaps into these moments; our Lord noticed our demise and is already at work with a solution as our overcomer.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—Jesus, John 16:33

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Where could I go but to the Lord?  God provides for us before, during, and after life’s challenges.  God is everywhere all the time. God knows before we tell him but God wants us to tell him so that we know he knows as we run to Him in bold confidence!  God uses these times of troubles to grow our relationship and strengthen our faith in Him.  “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4, NLT

Where could I go but to the Lord!  There is no one like our God!

In the days of Moses, when God’s commands were written and explained to His people, God, in His wisdom told them to set up areas in the Promised Land for places of refuge to run to when accused.  “Innocent until found guilty” are people who run to these cities and wait for the matter to be investigated.  They are to be kept safe until judgement can be made.  Read on…

Deuteronomy 19

Cities of Refuge

When the Lord your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses, ² then set aside for yourselves three cities in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess. ³ Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.

⁴ This is the rule concerning anyone who kills a person and flees there for safety—anyone who kills a neighbor unintentionally, without malice aforethought. ⁵ For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life. ⁶ Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought. ⁷ This is why I command you to set aside for yourselves three cities.

⁸ If the Lord your God enlarges your territory, as he promised on oath to your ancestors, and gives you the whole land he promised them, ⁹ because you carefully follow all these laws I command you today—to love the Lord your God and to walk always in obedience to him—then you are to set aside three more cities. ¹⁰ Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

¹¹ But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities, ¹² the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die. ¹³ Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.

¹⁴ Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Witnesses

¹⁵ One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

¹⁶ If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crime, ¹⁷ the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the Lord before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. ¹⁸ The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite, ¹⁹ then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. ²⁰ The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid, and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. ²¹ Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The cities of refuge were designated towns to which people who had killed a person by accident could flee. Murderers who intentionally killed someone were not protected in those cities. This is an Old Testament illustration of grace.

Believers, as refugees from sin, have a place to turn to—Jesus Christ.  There is nothing our Lord will not forgive.  Run to Him, believe, repent holding nothing back, and be saved from all that holds you down and hems you in from all sides.  By His grace we are saved and set free!  Debt of sins paid in full!

Where could we go but the Lord?  Here are reasons why:

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “No one is good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) God knows all there is to know about each one of us—from the inside out and outside in because God knows our hearts.  He created us.  He does not give up on us; God’s love, mercy, and grace remains for all who come to him and humbly repent of all their sins in the Name of Jesus, His Son.  Anyone and everyone who calls on the Name of Jesus will be saved, all sins removed, and will inherit eternal life as a bonus of God’s goodness!  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

PAUSE TO BE STILL

Where could I go?  That’s for each one of us to decide today.  Who and where has already been prepared and readied for us!   

Who can save me? The answer was, is and always will be—Our Lord, “our present help in times of trouble” who is also “the joy of our salvation”!  He is waiting…what are you waiting for? Run to Him!  His arms are open wide ready to receive you!

LIVE GRATEFULLY IN GOD’S GRACE!  GRACE WINS EVERY TIME! 

“God forgave us before we even asked for it. He extended mercy to us before we even knew we needed it. Why? Because the God of mercy took pity on us—a band of creatures who are incapable of saving themselves without his gift of mercy.

If you struggle with understanding God’s mercy, reflect on where you would be today without God’s grace. How have you experienced God as a place of refuge or safety? As a New Testament believer, you can now come before God’s throne where there is grace and mercy when you need it.” –Max Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Where do you run to daily in times of trouble and in times of calm?  I pray it is the Lord over heaven and earth, The Overcomer of all that tries to overcome us. 

Lord,

You are our Savior and Lord.  You are also the One who is always with us 24/7. You stand ready to be our refuge when troubles come with open arms to comfort us.  Just knowing this settles our souls as we receive your gift of peace. Thank you for who you are to us and for us. Thank you for being our ever-present help in times of trouble, confusion, and conflict. Thank you for using these times to grow our relationship with You. Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit.  To you be the glory, honor, and praise. May your will be done. I trust you with my life for you are Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen