Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23, 6)

Dear readers,

what is it, that follows me on my way to eternity? What accompanies me on the way to God? Can I like David say, that God's goodness and mercy accompany me along my way through life? David can already visualize the finish line in front of him. He is on his way to God in his faith. His home will be with the Lord. He will be with God in all eternity. That is his straight line, to where he is heading. On this way God´s goodness and mercy accompany him.

When you look back on your life, what comes behind you? Again, are you able to say like David, that God's love and mercy follow you? When you look back into your thoughts, do you discover God's goodness and mercy? The apostle Paul reminds his co-worker Timothy that unfortunately, sin can also be a constant companion. He writes in the 1st letter to Timothy (chapter 5, verses 24 + 25):

“The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others are sometimes not so obvious – they then trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.”

There are people, who are persecuted downright by the consequences of their sins. Their sins follow them right on their heels, day and night. It was the same with Paul. When he was the “old Saul”, sins were his constant companion. But then he met Jesus Christ. He received the chance to meet the Lord Jesus, the good shepherd. And therefore he was able to say (Titus 3, 3 - 7):

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, like in a washing. He poured out on us generously, both the Holy Spirit and renewal through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Blessed is the man from whom the burden of his sins has been taken away through the Lord Jesus Christ. Happy is the man who can say: today the good shepherd Jesus accompanies me on the path through my life. And when I turn around and look back, my sins no longer haunt me. They are erased by the atonement of Jesus on the cross of Golgotha. I look back and now I see the goodness and mercy of God. They are my constant companions until one day, when I will be completely at home with God.

May God bless your path through your life!