Life is Fragile. God is Not. But He's Given Us A Covering.

I believe God speaks to us all the time. He speaks through the magnificence of creation. He speaks to us when we read the Bible. He speaks through melodies of music, through our conversations, through a glance from a stranger, an eye-catching billboard and even through our thoughts. But do we hear Him?

And personally, He is speaking to me now as I am hearing more and more details of Whitney Houston's death. First of all, I am saddened to hear of her tragic death. I know she is not the only person who left this life tragically two days ago but the worldwide media made her passing known to the world.

Life really is fragile -- for all of us. God is not. He is Almighty and we need His covering. I think God is reminding us, again, -- at least those willing to listen to Him -- that He is God and we are not. We think we are invincible and sometimes might make thoughtless decisions and lustful choices. We are not invincible. We are very fragile. We have a Creator called God and we are His creatures. We were made for Him and His purposes. He made us in His love and wisdom. In our sin He gave us a Savior and His children have been washed clean by the blood of that Savior Jesus. Then He gave us rules and boundaries to keep us safe and whole and tells us to live lives that honor Him as our Creator.

"So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you: do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess" (Deuteronomy 5:32).

When we forget God and listen to the worldly ways of living, we are no longer alert as God commands us. God warns us that life if hard and to be careful to follow His lead. "The sorrow of those increase who run after other gods" (Proverbs 16:4).

He is constantly warning us because He is gracious and merciful. He even gives us spiritual armor to protect us -- but of course we have put it on! After the detailed description in Ephesians of God's protective armor for us, the passage closes with: "With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

We must remain alert. Daily. Why? Well, here's another warning from God that makes me shake in my boots: "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12) We must remind each other to be alert and pray for each other and pray for those who don't know Him. We are the body of Christ. We must wake up, get up and get properly dressed in the full armor of God and then tell the world about the One who gives LIFE and gives it in abundance!

"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desires of our hearts" (Isaiah 26:8).

Lord, have mercy on us all. We NEED You.