MAY 18, 2015
One Step Closer
Now
our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. —Romans 13:11
Read:
Romans
13:10-14
Some years ago a
friend and I set out to climb Mount Whitney. At 14,505 feet, it is the tallest
mountain in the contiguous United States. We arrived at Whitney Portal late one
evening, rolled out our sleeping bags at base camp, and tried to get some sleep
before we began our ascent at first light. Whitney is not a technical climb but
rather a long, exhausting walk—11 miles of relentless ascent.
The climb, though
hard-going, was exhilarating, with stunning vistas, beautiful blue lakes, and
lush meadows along the way. But the trail grew long and exhausting, a test for
legs and lungs. I thought of turning back as the day wore on and the trail
seemed to stretch endlessly before us.
Occasionally, however,
I caught a glimpse of the summit and realized that each step was bringing me
one step closer. If I just kept walking, I would get there. That was the
thought that kept me going.
Paul assures us, “Our
salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11). Every day brings
us one day closer to that great day when we shall “summit” and see our Savior’s
face. That’s the thought that can keep us going.
Dear Lord, may I, for
the joy set before me, endure with patience the hardship of the trail. When my
journey is over, I will see You face to face and live with You forever.
Now we see Jesus in
the Bible, but someday we’ll see Him face to face.
INSIGHT:
Paul often discusses the need to walk (live) properly. He writes to the church
in Ephesus to remind them to walk in the light of good deeds because they have
been saved by God’s grace (Eph. 2:1-10). To the church in Rome, he prescribes a
different motivation for living according to the Lord Jesus Christ—because
“salvation is nearer” (Rom. 13:11). Because the time of the Lord’s return is
approaching, we are to leave behind the deeds of darkness.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012