“—-the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them.” Exodus 14:19
As we journey through life we are exposed to many dangers, most of which we are never aware of. And it is evident that even the strongest and wisest among us are not capable of protecting themselves from these things. The only way we can be at peace and enjoy the journey is to live in the awareness of the fact that God is our protector.

J. R. Miller wrote,”It is not always guidance that we most need. Sometimes we must stand still, with danger all around us, and then God goes behind us to shelter us. He always suits himself to our need. When we require guidance—he leads us. But when we need protection—he puts himself between us and the danger.

There is something very striking in this picture the divine presence moving from before, and becoming a wall between Israel and their enemies. There are some mother-birds, storks for instance, which cover their young with their own body in time of peril, to shield them, receiving the dart themselves. Human love often interposes itself as a shield to protect its own. On the cross, Jesus bared his bosom to receive the storm of wrath—that on his people no blast of the awful tempest might strike!

But not only does Christ put himself between us and our sins; he puts himself also between us and danger. The Lord God is our shield. Many of our dangers come upon us from behind. They are stealthy, insidious, assaulting us when we are unaware of their nearness. The tempter is cunning and shrewd. He does not meet us full-front. It is a comfort to know that Christ comes behind us—when it is there we need the protection.“

During the days of my youth I was involved in many fights. I picked some and I was picked for some. In case you don’t know it, people seldom pick fights with others unless they think they win. That’s just the way it works. No one wants to pick a fight with someone he knows can whip him. Yet for all that, there are those who evidently think they can prevail against God. Amazingly there are many people who believe they can disobey God’s laws, resent His authority, ignore His warnings,and suffer no ill-effects from it. They seem to think that, although others have gone down in defeat, they will be the exception to the rule and won’t get hurt. We should know better—especially believers!

James Smith addressed the subject like this: “A believer strive against his God! Yes, it is sometimes the case; he may strive against some of the doctrines of His word; or, against some of the dispensations of His providence; or, against some of the commands He has issued. But why dost strive against Him?

His wisdom is infinite. His love is unchangeable. His ways are all righteous. His methods may be mysterious, and His dispensations trying; but His designs are all gracious and good. It is your duty to submit and be still. It is your privilege to believe and trust. It is rebellion and treason to strive against Him, for He giveth not account of any of His matters.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. He is not accountable to any. He will not be questioned by the curious, or called to an account by the proud. He demands our acquiescence on the ground of His perfections, promises, and word. He will make all plain and clear to us by and by, and then we shall know as we are known, and be perfectly satisfied. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord.”

Life is tough, duties are hard, enemies are fierce, we are weak, and sometimes we feel like quitting. But, for the Christian, that should never be considered as an option. God demands that we remain faithful regardless of the circumstances.

Adrian Rogers said,”I heard of some men years ago who were on a leaky old ship in the middle of a rough and stormy sea, fearful for their lives. They didn’t know whether they were going to sink or not. So one of them went to see the captain and said, “Captain, are we safe?” He answered, “Well, I’ll put it to you this way. The boilers on this ship are very weak and may explode at any moment. Also, the ship is very old and she’s taking on water. To be honest with you, we may have an explosion or we may sink. “We may go up or we may go down. But,” he continued, “at any rate, we’re going on.”

And that’s the way we are, as we face this new year. Jesus may come—we may go up. We may die—we’ll go down and then go up. But at any rate, we’re going on…even though we don’t know what it’s going to bring.”

Cheer up Christian, every day you are so much nearer to your eternal home! Never was the end of the journey so near as now; never were there so many troubles behind you, and so few before you, as now. It is all up hill until you reach the celestial city–you will therefore find it more or less difficult unto the end. But,
  when you arrive at home,
  when you enter into the holy city,
  when you see your precious Lord Jesus,
  when you enjoy the presence of God
–then all will be well, and well forever!

You will be in your Father’s house–your holy, happy home! You shall know no lack, nor will your desires remain ungratified. There will be . . .
  no toil there,
  no crosses or burdens to carry there,
  no foes within nor without to face there,
  no tears or pains there,
  no conflicts to endure there.

Five minutes with Jesus–and then what shall you think of all your earthly temptations, toils, trials, and troubles? One hour in Heaven, with the certainty of being forever holy, and forever happy–what will all your earthly afflictions be then?

Then, then, shall you understand the apostle when he says,”For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Rom. 8:18
–By James Smith, 1860

Ye have compassed this mountain long enough turn you northward.–Deut. 2:3
Hundreds of times I heard my mother say to me–“Good, better, best, Never let them rest. Till your good is your better and your better is your best”. That’s good advice. I thought of that when I read these words by J. R. Miller:

“We ought never to be willing to live any year—just as we lived the last one. No one is striving after the best things—who is not intent on an upward and a forward movement continually. The circular movement is essential too, the going around and around in the old grooves, routine work, daily tasks; yet, even in this treadmill round, there should be constant progress. We ought to do the same things, better each day. Then in the midst of the outward routine—our inner life ought to be growing in earnestness, in force, in strength, in depth.

Yet there are some people whose life year by year is only a going around and around in the old beaten paths, with no onward movement. They are like men who walk in a circular course for a prize, covering a thousand miles, perhaps, but ending just where they began. Rather, our daily walk should be like one whose path goes around a mountain, but climbs a little higher with each circuit, until at last he gains the clear summit, and looks into the face of God. While we must do in a measure the same things every day—we should do them a little better with each repetition.”