Protect Yourself!

Turn on the TV and you will be told that you need to “protect your house”, or “protect your car” or even “protect your identity.” Buy an appliance and you will then be offered the opportunity to protect your investment by purchasing an extended warranty.


Selling protection is a huge business in the United States.


In the Middle Ages, princes did not have insurance, so they built tremendous castles and fortresses to protect themselves and their “stuff”.

Berg Eltz
Protecting Middle Age Princes for Centuries

Today’s reading is Ezra 8:24-31.


The exiled Jews were returning to Jerusalem from Assyria, a several hundred mile trek. They were taking with them gold and silver articles to adorn the newly rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The journey would be treacherous, with thieves along the way. Who would protect the Jews?


Their protection was in the Lord, their God! The exiles prayed, and sure enough God saw to it that they made it to Jerusalem, with all the gold and silver, safe and sound.


The world has told us to protect our stuff, and in fact, as good stewards of what God has given us, it does make sense to buy insurance to protect at least some of our stuff.


However, there is something the world does not tell us to protect, and that is our soul, the essence of who we are.


We need to “protect” our soul from the ravages of sin and hell. We cannot protect our “stuff” by ourselves, so we rely on insurance companies.


Similarly, we cannot protect our soul by ourselves; we must rely on Jesus.


Jesus has better credentials than an insurance salesman. He died on the cross to take away our sins. He is true God and true Man. He knows what we are going through, and he knows all about the ravages of hell. He knows how to protect our soul!


Like the exiles relied on God for safe travel on their journey, we should rely on Jesus for our journey on Earth that eventually ends in heaven!


Unlike an insurance policy, Jesus' protection is completely free!