Some of the last recorded words that our Lord spoke to His disciples before He ascended to His Father are found in Matthew 28. In the last part of verse 20 we read: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." What a glorious promise that every child of God can draw strength from and be comforted with. But it isn' t the promise that strengthens and comforts God's children — IT IS CHRIST HIMSELF! God's Word says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). In 2 Thess. 2:16 & 17 we find these precious words of truth: "Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." You see, it is God Himself who strengthens and comforts us through His Word. Those who have never received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour can find no comfort in Christ's statement: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." The Lord has to be with someone before the promise to continue with them can have any true meaning. Those without Christ should be made to feel uncomfortable, not filled with false assurance.

Moreover, isn't it interesting to observe the actions of many who profess that Christ is with them? They must believe He is hard of hearing and half blind the way they talk and act. And the murmuring spirit that so many carry causes a bolt of fear to shoot through my soul when I consider God's wrath that was displayed against murmuring Israel. Further, many who claim that Christ is with them never seem to overcome temptation. Instead of running from sin, it appears that they are running toward sin. And then there are those who fall into sinful traps who make no effort to escape. To the contrary, they seem to be enjoying themselves. Yet, these all claim that Christ is with them and will continue to be with them. I wonder!

Brethren, we all say and do things that are not becoming of a Christian. And every one of us have felt the cold steel of Satan's traps bite hard into our weak flesh. But our Saviour wears a name that has proven to be true time and time again. Jesus Christ is "THE DELIVERER"! The Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Gal. 1:4). Rest assured, if Christ is with us He has delivered us, He is delivering us and He will yet deliver us (2 Cor. 1:10)."