God's Appointments

"But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

There are many kinds of appointments we have daily, and some of these are arranged and kept by us and others by God.  Yesterday I accompanied my parents to a doctor's appointment, the kind of appointment one would rather not have.  It would be wonderful if we never were sick and doctor's appointments were unnecessary, but having an appointment with a skilled physician is a blessing when you have cancer and want to be rid of it.

I was encouraged by this passage in 1 Thessalonians 5 that tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ.  We may forget we have an appointment and miss it, but God never forgets.  As children of God saved through the Gospel, we are not appointed to wrath.  The suffering and pains of this life are not retribution for our sins, for Jesus has provided atonement on the cross, forgiven us and imputed the righteousness of God to us.  In this world, however, we will suffer many trials and tribulations.  We can be sure every one of them is devoid of God's wrath that consumes and destroys, for He utilises trials to refine His beloved children to make us more like Him.

As certain as children of God are not appointed to wrath, He has appointed us to obtain salvation and to live together with Him.  He will not fail to keep these appointments!  Jesus died for us so we can always live with Him in fellowship as companions.  Whether we live in these bodies or after our mortal frame is laid to rest, Jesus has appointed us to life with Him.  Paul exhorted believers to comfort and edify one another with these words, for God has appointed comfort for those who mourn.  The one who mourns over their sin and repents is the one who will be forgiven and comforted, and this knowledge of God's divine appointments and plans for us strengthens us today.

By faith in Jesus we put on the breastplate of faith and love, and we don the helmet of the hope of salvation.  These, my brothers and sisters, will never disappoint.  When we are disappointed with situations in our lives, our hearts and minds are well-protected by faith and the love of God and hope of salvation.  No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, for God has appointed us to live with Him now and forever.  Jesus is our life, and blessed is the one who is comforted and edified in Him.