Upgrade

When people ask me, "How are you doing?" I usually answer, "Better than I deserve." It is a stolen response; Dave Ramsey says it all the time on his radio show. Better than I deserve is the truth for me. I bet it's the truth for you as well.

I've often said if God gave me what I deserved, I would have been Zapped a long time ago. Today we wrap up psalm 23. Before we get there, let's look at these words from psalm 103: "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the Earth, so great is his Mercy towards those who fear Him. As far as the East is from the West, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him."

Each and every one of us have been treated better than we deserve. And as we come to the close of Psalm 23 23, remember that David, the author of Psalm 23, also wrote those words I just read from psalm 103. You know the last verse, don't you, of Psalm 23? "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

It seems to me that David is very reflective as he wrote the psalm. He seems older and wiser as he pins these words. I think it's likely that he's looking back over his life. Like your life, like mine, there have been hives and there have been lows.

He killed Goliath. He became king of Israel. He danced before the Ark of the Covenant. He even prepared Provisions for God's Temple. Those were great days.

And he also had some bad ones: the Bathsheba incident, the death of a child, family turmoil, and he had lots of it. He was even hunted by King Saul like an animal. He led to an action-packed, interesting life. And as he reminisces, he came to a great conclusion: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

David knew that as God had been with him all of his days, God would continue to be faithful with his goodness and with his Mercy. This reminds me of another verse that David wrote, found in Psalm 37. It's verse 25, where he said, "I have been Young, and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread."

As we have journeyed together through Psalm 23, we have seen God with David, and by extension with us, through Green Pastures and Still Waters, through dark valleys, and to a table safe from enemies. David has been given way more than he deserved. In his best days and in his darkest, God has always been right there with him. Surely goodness and mercy followed David all the days of his life.

David had a great life. He accomplished so much, and here we are three thousand years later talking about his life. I'm pleased to remind you today that David's life is still ongoing. He has eternal life. He was looking towards that when he wrote, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

David knows that his life, or he knew that his life would only get better in the next world. It would be an upgrade. Several years ago I was flying from Indianapolis, Indiana, to New Orleans. The plane was full, and I was upgraded to First Class.

I don't fly much. I'd never flown first class before, and I must admit that I liked the upgrade. I'm tall and long-legged, and I enjoyed the leg room. I liked the cookies too. I don't drink alcohol, but the doctor sitting next to me seemed to enjoy that service a lot.

The food was better. The service was better than coach. First class is the only way to fly. I really love the upgrade that God has given me. I cannot imagine my life without the Good Shepherd guiding and protecting me.

I love how David's words his upgrade plan for heaven when he says, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Notice he does not say "I might dwell" or "I may dwell." He says, "I will dwell." David was certain and secure in his faith, and you should be too.

David realized that his life would only get better, and this verse then is a great Crescendo to a song of faith. Did he deserve it? No. Nor do I, nor do any of us. It's a gift of God, purchased with the life of his only son, Jesus.

We get way better than we deserve. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Amen.

Pray with me. Father, thank you for the way you upgrade Our Lives. Thank you for your goodness and your mercy that follow and pursue us. Thank you for being our great Shepherd that leads us not only in this life but of the days to come.

Help us to be certain of our faith, and we look forward one day to seeing David and Saints of old and others in the faith that have gone on before us. And while we're at it, let us take some with us as we share the faith, the good news of Jesus. In his name we pray, amen.

Thanks for joining me.