“Be prepared!” he cautioned. “Nightmare doesn’t begin describing my experience with customs. They opened my luggage, dumped all of it on the floor and picked through every single item—including my underwear. Far worst came when I departed. I won’t be going again.“ The advice came from a colleague who had recently returned from an exploratory trip to Romania. I was preparing for my first teaching trip shortly after the revolution and the execution of the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The week before leaving the Holy Spirit led me to a verse, The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever (Psa 121:8). But, I missed the connection to my upcoming trip. When I arrived, customs waved me through to passport control, which stamped my passport and welcomed me to Romania. “Thank you, Lord,” I whispered continuing toward my host peering through the glass separating the two areas. I totally failed to see that the Lord had guarded my coming in.
I fretted about the departure for next the three weeks. When the day arrived, my driver dropped me off at the Departure Terminal. No problems at Passport control, but then I entered the Custom’s area. People, waiting their turn, were backed up anxiously watching agents open every suitcase and dump the contents. Unexpectedly, another station opened, and the officer gestured for me to approach. He glanced at my paperwork, put my closed suitcases on the loading conveyer, and instructed me to proceed to my plane’s departure gate. “Praise the Lord!” I thought, “They didn’t even open my luggage let alone dump it like the other passengers. Hallelujah.” Then the Holy Spirit jarred my memory, The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. God had not only guarded my coming in but guarded my going out. Instead of a nightmare, it was like a pleasant dream.
Several lessons from this experience have guided me since in my travels. First, if I had taken time and asked the Holy Spirit how this verse applied to me, I wouldn’t have spent three weeks fearing my departure. The anxiety came from someone else’s bad experience. I allowed his disappointment to rob me of peace. I should have rested in the word God had given me instead of my friend’s negative input. The second lesson showed me that even though I don’t always comprehend His promises, God protects us regardless. His faithfulness doesn’t depend on our understanding. His protection in this particular situation taught and prepared me for future times I would come in and go out. An important lesson for us to learn, God protects His people. A song Israel sang when ascending the hills to Jerusalem reminded them of the Lord’s protection. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people (Psa 125:2).
Moses gives us further insight of God’s protection when the children of Israel left Egypt. The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them (Exo 14:19). God wasn’t just preparing their way forward, He was guarding Israel from the rear protecting them from Pharaoh and his army—the enemies from their past. Believers can know much about God preparing the way forward but how much do we understand about His protection from the rear. One of Satan’s most effective tactics is getting believers to dwell on their past. He wants to discourage us with our past failures, past sins, past enemies, past accusations, past situations, etc. Here’s what scripture tells us, Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past (Isa 43:18).
We are protective of what belongs to us—our families, heirlooms, valuable possessions, etc. We are God’s valuable possession. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own . . . For you have been bought with a price (1 Corin 6: 19, 20). Peter tells us what the Lord paid for us, not perishable things like silver or gold . . . but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:18, 19). You are valuable to God and He protects His people coming in and going out and even from the enemies of our past.
Several times when traveling in certain countries and dangerous areas, my host thought I needed a body guard. Needless to say I was humbled yet encouraged knowing I was being protected. How much more should we be emboldened with the Lord God Almighty protecting us. No adversity can have power over us because the Holy Spirit is with us and in us.
Sustaining Word for the Week: When the devil tries to frighten you with your past, remind him of his future.