Isaiah 43:11 “I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.”

No human can save themselves from the wrath of God, and therefore no human can save someone else from that wrath. The penalty of sin is death and eternal death. On the human level, neither of these two deaths can be avoided, but on the God level, both of them can. The prophet must continually remind the people of who is in charge and who can save. Idols, whether of stone, wood, metal, or flesh, cannot change man’s destiny. Only God can do that.

We live in a world that does not hear this message, and if they do, they hold it in ridicule. The world today has adopted the attitude of the Pharaoh that questioned Moses. “But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2). Like many other doubters, Pharaoh found out, and like many other doubters, he found out too late.

God came into the world in the flesh and took the name Jesus, or savior. Peter told the Jewish council in reference to the name of Jesus, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Salvation belongs to God and not humans. If you or I want to be saved, we will have to come to God.

Task for Today: Are you one of the saved? Have you been to the name of Jesus for salvation? Only God, through His Son, can save you, but you must claim the salvation. The bible makes it clear that you must obey God to be saved. Jesus said, as recorded in Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Do you believe? Have you been baptized to be saved? Perhaps some of you will say, “I don’t have to be baptized in order to be saved, I’m saved, and then I got baptized.” To which I would reply, you are arguing with the wrong person. I’m repeating Jesus, not making up my own rules. You can argue with Him if that is your choice. It’s just not how I view my relationship with the King of kings.