Intertribal Life Newspaper -

A few days ago, I was watching a video of a beautiful horse named Daisy. She had somehow fallen in a well. Her back legs were trapped and the only thing sticking out of the well was the front half of her legs, her head and a portion of her neck. She was helpless and without strength to get herself out of the pit she was in. If it wasn't for the backhoe and skilled operator, Daisy would have died. It was amazing to watch as the back hoe lifted such a magnificent creature up and out of the well. Daisy rested in the strength of the back hoe and soon she was standing on solid ground.

I thought about this story for a long time. We are like that horse; I was like that horse, beautifully created, but I have had times in my life when I was alone and I ran and ended up in a pit. We need something bigger than ourselves to save us and put us on solid ground again.

Some may ask, where is the Creator of the universe when times like these are experienced? Where is God when death happens to a friend or family member?

God sees everything, knows everything, and is awake all day and night. He never goes to sleep and never gets lazy. He is ready and willing to show Himself when we call on Him with all our heart. He can't lie. He keeps all of His promises in His Word, the good ones and the bad ones, but He wants us to enter into the good promises. So where is God when we lose our loved ones? He is speaking to the conscience in every situation, seeking to get peoples attention, compelling those who are searching for peace to turn to Him. 2 Peter 3:9

Why do any of us die? Nobody gets off the planet alive. We are given the breath of life and opportunity to love God by obeying Him and to love others today. This is why He created us. We are not guaranteed this opportunity tomorrow.

God's Word says death is no respecter of persons. It takes the old and young; it's going to take me and it's going to take you. It's a payment we have to make because of a fallen world that has turned its back on a just and holy God. We ourselves have fallen short of what God created us for: to love Him supremely, to bring glory to Him, to live for Him, to love ALL others and to hate sin. WE have gone our own way the scriptures says (Romans 3:23). We have offended Him over and over. But amazingly He loves us. He loves you and wants to operate in your life and all lives just like that backhoe operated in the life of Daisy the horse.

It's an amazing thing that God shows His mercy and kindness to us continually even though we deserve His justice for our rebellion towards Him. For running our own lives instead of following Him.

One lie, one act of hate or one lustful thought-the list goes on and on. The fact that any of us are standing or sitting at this moment and breathing is proof of God's goodness and yet He throws in all the extra things in life that are blessings as well.

If we had a book in front of us that showed us up until this very moment all the acts of God in our lives, where He stepped in and gave and gave when we didn't deserve it or when He preserved us from danger or when He helped us, we would be amazed! We would fall on our knees in thankfulness, understanding that He really does love us and is thinking of our eternal comfort. He wants to show us how good He is and He doesn't want us to meet judgment for our sins.

God isn't far away, He is here now. He wants us to come to Him in faith, laying down our weakness, our guilt and shame at His feet because He is the only one who can carry it for us. He gives true comfort for the heart (Second Corinthians 1:3-5). Anything else or anyone else is imperfect and cannot give the peace, power and forgiveness that we really need.

Jesus Christ, Creator's Son, paid the price for us so that we can have wonderful blessings that are priceless and can't be found through the things of this world. He is the only one who can lift us out of the deep pit of sin we are in and stand us up and give us the ability to walk tall and true with Him. I'm so glad to say that even though the payment for sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

There is a story I would like to end with that I found in several versions on the Internet. It tells about a particular Aboriginal tribe that was suffering from the effects of a severe drought. Their chief governed well and was very loved, but food was scarce and the members of the tribe were beginning to steal from each other in order to survive.

The chief knew that this would be the death of the tribe so he issued a law that the next person caught stealing would be taken to the center of the village, tied to a pole and publicly whipped.

The next day, sure enough a thief was caught. Everyone came to see who it was and to witness the punishment. To the shock of the tribe, the thief turned out to be the chief's own mom. What was he going to do? He was a good chief, and could not justly ignore the law he had made a short time before. He had to keep his word.

But, this was his mom. She was old, and frail, the beating could very well kill her. And he loved her. How could he cause her to suffer?

What do you think he should do? Which should win: His love or his justice?

Well, here's what he does. He orders that her wrists be tied to the pole so the beating can begin. And he calls the punisher to step forward, whip in hand.

But before he gives the order for the lashings to begin, he steps between his mom and the punisher. He stretches his strong frame across her frail back and with her body completely protected underneath his own, he orders that the punishment to begin.

As the cords of the whip fall, they fall on him, and he absorbs the brunt of her penalty. In that act he was both just, in carrying out the penalty, and loving, by suffering it himself.

That is what Jesus did for us. We are guilty of breaking His laws, and we know it. The Bible is clear that sin earns a penalty and God is just. The penalty must be paid which is death, but it's also clear that God loves us. He wants good things for us. He doesn't want us to face eternal separation from Him because of our sins. He wants us to know Heaven as our home. He has provided a Savior so that doesn't have to happen, but we need to be willing to put our faith in Him and follow Him through His Word.

White Wolf Pack

If it wasn't for the backhoe and skilled operator, Daisy would have died. Daisy didn't fight the backhoe's help. She accepted it because she couldn't save herself.

So here's what He did. He came to earth, became a man, lived a perfect life and hung on a cross for you and me. When Jesus was being crucified, what He was doing was stepping in between we who are guilty, and God the Father who demanded justice. He absorbed the blows of that punishment so we wouldn't have to in a terrible place for all of eternity. He died and rose again, victorious over our sin, so that we could escape His justice and live a life free from the control of sin and the judgment sin deserves.

Daisy the horse didn't fight the backhoe's help. She accepted it because she couldn't save herself.

May God help each of us to consider His great love and accept His life-changing gift of salvation through His Son today. We don't have tomorrow. When Christ is your Saviour, nothing can separate you from God's love, not even death itself (Romans 8:31-39).

Becky Kew shares Good News at Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba Canada. BeckyKew@outlook.com