Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age…
Galatians 1:3-4

We’re still living in “the present evil age;” it doesn’t take much to see that. God’s plan to deliver us from the present evil age wasn’t to airlift us out of it, but to walk us safely through it, all the way home.

He gave free will to the human race; we have the ability not only to choose to do the right thing but to choose to do some really terrible things. The “present evil age” is the result of some six billion people all exercising their free will for godless self-gratification, and reaping the consequences.

The process of being delivered from the present evil age begins when I receive His forgiveness for my participation in it. All those self-centered, godless decisions I’ve made are under the blood of Jesus, blotted out and forgiven. I’m declared innocent in spite of them.

Then the separation process, where I pick up my cross and follow Jesus. I accept the suffering that will come from making choices contrary to the desires of my own sinful nature and against the current of the present evil age.

The Lord Jesus put it this way: “If anyone would come after Me let him deny himself, take up his cross, and come, follow Me.”

In another place He said it this way: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The cross is painful, but the yoke is restful. Following Jesus is the way out; it’s His plan to deliver me from this present evil age.

Lord Jesus, I choose to pick up my cross, step into the yoke with You, and follow, today. Ease the pain of the cross by the rest that You have promised me. Walk me safely, step by step, through this present evil age and all the way home. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles