From William Oldham

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

When you consider the many testimonies of the Old Testament saints, you know they believed that the God they served was very present to help them in times of trouble; and they gave God the glory by trusting Him in the most trying of situations and circumstances.

We see: Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command. Moses chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt. Then we see young David confronting the giant, Goliath in order to uphold the honor of the God of Israel. We see three young Hebrews willing to face a fiery furnace rather than bow to an idol; and Daniel’s willingness to face hungry lions rather that stop praying to the Lord, and the list goes on.

But with such a faith as those Old Testament saints displayed in God being a very present help in trouble, their knowledge of the Lord was so much less than that of those who have been joined to God through Jesus Christ. Christ came as the Light of the world. It is through Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that men have a much greater knowledge of God. Paul said, “Now we see things imperfectly”, but even at that, we see so much more then the OT saints.

The unsearchable riches of Christ are revealed abundantly at the cross, with Jesus taking our sins, condemnation and judgment on Himself. In His resurrection, we find God’s riches bestowed upon us through the relationship and position that a believer is given in Christ. All the riches and glory of this world cannot even be compared to being a child of God and a joint heir with Christ of God’s infinite treasures.

Having said that, we come to another portion of the unsearchable riches of Christ that was a mystery to the OT saints: the ever present presence of the living Lord of glory, Jesus Christ! Before the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven, He left His church this unbreakable promise, “…Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

God goes from being a very present help in trouble to living in us through His Son, Jesus. God’s glorious plan was a mystery to the OT saints, but Paul taught that God willed to make known the mystery to the New Testament saints and it was simply this: “…Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Indeed, the unsearchable riches of Christ is Jesus Christ indwelling every member of His body through the Person of the Holy Spirit.

What does this unspeakable treasure mean to a follower of Christ? Just this: we have a life to live in this sin-cursed world; it grows more wicked, perverse and darker every day. Hatred for the followers of Christ is manifest. But, believers have all the help they need to make it through this world, and safely reach heaven’s golden shores.

“Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He lives forever to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25 We have Jesus at God’s right hand, always talking to our Father on our behalf. But there’s more.

The Holy Spirit Who lives in us helps us in our weakness. “We don’t know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26

God loves us, has chosen us, and has called us to be His children. He has given us Jesus Who loves us, died for us, and ever lives to intercede for us; and Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit Who loves us, lives in us, leads us, and is praying for us.

How great and unsearchable are the riches in Christ!

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net