Jesus, My Redeemer

Over the past few days, I have had two songs playing consistently in my head.

The one is the old song: “Fear not, for I am with you” and the other, an old Keith Green song called, “There is a redeemer”.

In both songs the message is loud and clear. Jesus is our redeemer. So what does that actually mean for us as Christians?

What is a redeemer?

It is a person who redeems or repays, recovers, saves, exchanges something for something else. We are not only saved but we are provided with redemption. A redeemer is a deliverer, a rescuer, a liberator and also a saviour.

In Hebrew the word used is “Goel”. A redeemer in bible times was a person who, as the nearest relative, was charged with restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs.

What about fear?

The opposite of being redeemed is probably best described as someone who is enslaved. This is where fear often comes in. Fear takes us captive, most times playing out in our minds and imagination. Sometimes fear is real, like when confronted with danger, but it can also be fabricated. You have probably heard the acronym: False Evidence Appearing Real.

The bible is very clear on the topic of fear and we are encouraged by many scriptures in this regard:

1. Ps 34:4-5 I sought the Lord and he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

2. Ps 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

3. Is 41:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand: it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

4. Is 43:1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

5. Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things.

I could go on and on as there are so many scriptures on this subject. I do believe that as we rejoice in God our Redeemer, we can know where we stand.

He has bought our healing, deliverance and salvation on the cross. In Jesus we have a victory that was won all those years ago. As we choose to rejoice, we can bring heaven to earth and God’s will can be done in our lives.

I also believe that God is still sovereign overall and that our times are in His hands. We can have freedom from fear when we realize that there is a time for everything.

In the past few months I have lost many friends from Covid or cancer and even though people prayed for them, they still passed on. I have taken comfort from the fact that the bible says there is a time for everything.

I really believe that Ecc 3:1 is true: “There is a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die.”

Read all eight verses. I am sure you will find something there to comfort you in your hour of need.

May you know God’s peace at this time. May He be your Redeemer. My prayer is that He will redeem that which you have lost and bring you into a place of abundance.