Due to the intense bombing campaign undertaken by Nazi Germany against the United Kingdom during World War II, an urgent request was made on November 8 for blankets for people sleeping in underground tunnels and shelters. Supplies for new or old blankets were requested in order to provide additional warmth for these people. Bombs were dropped on London and other strategic cities across Britain for eight months by Germany after the British carried out a nighttime air raid on Berlin.
“Words from Above’ in the Bible tell us in Psalm 91 that the Almighty God “covers” His followers “with His feathers” and also keeps us “under His wings” to protect us. The psalm writer is not saying that God has feathers, but he uses the imagery of how the feathers of a bird provide cover for it to compare it to how God provides cover for us. He says that we need not be afraid of the terror that comes our way at night, the arrow that flies through the air by day, the pestilence that is at work in our lives in darkness, or the destruction that is at work in our lives at noon time. He also speaks about assigning angels to watch over us to protect us from all kinds of physical harm or danger. Even Satan told Jesus in Matthew 4 that God could do that.
It is certainly a great comfort to know that God covers us with His arms of protection from physical danger of various kinds, but it is an even greater comfort to know that He also covers our sins with the blood of His Son. In the days of the Old Testament, the blood of animals was shed to make atonement for sins, but only the blood of Jesus shed on the Cross pays the penalty for sin. The apostle Paul said in Romans 5:8 that it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us, thereby justifying us as if we had never sinned in the first place.
The apostle Joh tells us I John 1:7 that if we walk in the light Jesus shines on our lives, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Paul says in Ephesians 1:7 that believers have redemption through His blood, which is saying that our souls have been bought back from the devil. He also says in Ephesians 2:13 that at one time we were far away from God, but now we have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus. Finally, he says in Colossians 1:20 that we have been reconciled to God through the blood Jesus shed on the Cross.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For information, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
