“In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in Your righteousness deliver me. Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be my rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me. You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me; for You are my strength. Into your hands I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O Lord, faithful God” (Psalm 31:1-5)

This is what we have been focusing on this morning. God, who is our refuge in the midst of the circumstances of life. 1996 was fast and busy, in many ways difficult. 1997 will probably be more of the same. Today, on New Year’s Sunday we want to find encouragement for the days ahead.

I wish to share two brief thoughts with you - which I hope will encourage you. The first is very evident from all that we have been sharing this morning.

1. GOD IS OUR REFUGE

In 1968, a routine flight bound for New York became anything but routine. Descending to the airport, the pilot realized the landing gear refused to engage. He worked the controls back and forth, trying again and again to make the gear lock down into place. Having no success, he asked the control tower for help.

The airport sprayed the runway with foam as fire trucks and other emergency vehicles moved into position. Disaster was only minutes away.

The passengers were told of each maneuver in that calm, cheery voice, that pilots manage to use at times like this. Passengers were told to place their heads between their knees and grab their ankles just before impact. It was one of those I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening-to-me experiences. There were tears and a few screams of despair. The landing was now seconds away.

Suddenly the pilot announced over the intercom:

“We are beginning our final descent. At this moment, in accordance with International Aviation Codes established at Geneva, it is my obligation to inform you that if you believe in God you should commence prayer.”

I am glad to report that the belly landing occurred without a hitch and no one was injured. The next day one of the passengers call the airline and asked about the prayer rule the pilot had quoted. Back to cool reserve, their reply was a simple “no comment.”

Amazing. The only thing that brought out into the open a deep-down “secret rule” was crisis. Pushed to the brink, back to the wall, right up to the wire, all escape routes closed... only then does our society crack open a hint of recognition that God might just be there, and “if you believe... you should commence prayer.”

Do you remember Mt. Saint Helens. Do you remember when it erupted? It’s hard to forget those dramatic pictures of smoke and ash rising thousands of feet into the air. Or, the miles of desolation blasted out of a pristine forest.

When I lived in Portland, Oregon I could see Mt. Saint Helens from my house. Every day I would look at that sheered off mountain - the top as flat as a table top - and wonder at the explosive force which shaped it.

A reporter for a local television station was in close proximity to the crater when the mountain suddenly rumbled to life. He came back with pictures and sound track of his own personal nightmare.

With camera and mike on the reporter literally ran for his life. The pictures were blurred and murky. But, his voice was something else - eerie, almost too personal to be disclosed. He breathed deeply, sobbed several times, panted, and spoke directly to God - no formalities - no cliches - no memorized prayers - just the despairing cry of a creature in crisis.

Things like, “Oh God, oh, my God.... help! Help!!...Oh, Lord God, get me through. God, I need you, please help me; I don’t know where I am” - more sobbing, more rapid breathing, spitting, gagging, coughing, panting - “It’s too hot, so dark, help me, God! Please, please, please, please... oh, God!”

The inner crisis of our soul. What does it take to bring us to “commence prayer”? We may mask our need, ignore it, pass it off with cool sophistication and intellectual denial.... But, take away the cushion of comfort - remove the shield of safety - and we all start looking for a refuge - a place of safety.

What does David say, what do all the verse that we have read today tell us? God is our refuge - God is our fortress - He is our strength. David says, “Into your hands I commit my spirit.”

We do not have to wait until a mountain explodes or the plane is going down. In every circumstance - whatever comes in 1997 - we can commit our spirit - our lives - into the hands of our good, faithful, patient, and loving God.

Our second thought of encouragement is this:

2. GOD HAS GIVEN US EACH OTHER FOR ENCOURAGEMENT

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Lord Cromwell sent his men on an investigation of the local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. After investigating, they reported, “The only silver we could find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners.”

To which Lord Cromwell replied, “Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them into circulation!”

That’s not bad theology. Christianity is not plaster people cloaked in thin layers of untarnished silver and topped with metallic halos. Christianity is real persons. Melted saints - humbled saints - circulating through the mainstream of humanity. Bringing worth and value, encouragement and support, down where life is lived in the raw.

Listen to these words by the Apostle Paul:

"Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” Thessalonians 5:11)

These words were written to real people. People who were trying to live in obedience to God in the midst of a society which was persecuting Christians - faithfully serving God while continually coming up against a brick wall of opposition - real people living in real tough circumstances. Real people who needed each other for real encouragement.

And as Paul says, they were doing it. They were willing to admit their needs to each other - willing to serve one another - and God was using them - to build each other up.

Paul says,"encourage one another” (Greek = “parakaleite”). Do you know what a “paraklete” is? No, it’s not a small bird. A “paraklete” - or one who encourages - is someone who lovingly, mercifully, humbly, following the example of God in towards them - comes alongside someone else and gently lifts them up - becomes their refuge and strength.

There are 6 million plus people living in the Bay Area. And, yet, sometimes we feel very much alone. Who are the people who genuinely care enough to listen, and are good at keeping secrets? Who are those who will come to our aid and rescue? Each of us needs a paraklete. Each of us can be a paraklete.

Shouldn’t the Church of Jesus Christ be a shelter? Shouldn’t we be a fellowship, a community of faith, where people can come and say, “I’m sunk!” “I’ve had it!” “I need help!”? The Church should be a place to hide and heal. Not a place where guilt is added, criticism freely given, and distress piled on.

As we move together in 1997, the Bible encourages us to trust the fortress which cannot be moved, to hide in the shelter which will always stand, God who is our rock, our stronghold. The Bible also encourages us to see God’s example as a pattern for our own lives. To seek to encourage others. To be there for them. To strive to be a refuge for them.