Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

I was just drifting off to sleep last night when a scorpion strung me in the underarm. I yelled in pain. It hurt me physically. It left a whelp. This morning even after having a poultice applied all night, I can still feel it.

So is Luke 10:19 true or not? I did not use the Lord’s name in vain. I did not curse. I did not cuss. In a past life I would have done that and more. I would have made everyone within ear shot uncomfortable. So in one sense it did not hurt me because I remained who I am in Christ.

The incident showed me that I really have changed. I am no longer that man I once hated within myself. I am a new creature, a new creation in Christ. I don’t often think about it. I am comfortable with who I am today. It was in the unguarded moment, when my faith shield was stacked against the wall that I was vulnerable and my true nature was revealed. That is a new nature for me, not of the old dead man I left behind.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Praise the Lord.

Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The only thing better than a sequel is a trilogy. I can only hope that this tale lives up to the reputation of trilogies. I am not going to rehash the stories of the last two days. What I would like to do is point out three words that appear in verses 20 and 21. All the night.

Hebrews 13:5c I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Imagine if you will the hearts of Israel waiting all night long for the waters to clear so that they could escape to the other side. The east wind blew all night clearing the waters from the far shores towards them. While they saw salvation far off on the distant shore, the promise of safe passage had not yet been delivered to the shore upon which they stood.

Did they worry that salvation would not come in time to their shore to save them? Do we in the midst of the night of circumstances fear waiting on the dawn of salvation? Is our God any less capable of holding off the enemy than He is in completing salvations work? Does our losing heart and trembling in fear change the sanctification protection and the hope of salvation? No, it doesn’t. It just takes all the joy out of the waiting.

Hebrews 4:1-2 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

So keep the faith, the dawn is coming.