Psalm 107
1Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever. 2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy 3and gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell. 5They were hungry and thirsty; their soul fainted within them. 6Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. 7He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live. 8Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men. 9For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains, 11because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. 12He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. 14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains. 15Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men. 16For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. 17Fools, in their rebellious ways, and through their iniquities, suffered affliction. 18They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death. 19Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. 20He sent forth His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit. 21Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men. 22Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing. 23Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters. 24They saw the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. 25For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea. 26They mounted up to the heavens, then sunk to the depths; their courage melted in their anguish. 27They reeled and staggered like drunkards, and all their skill was useless. 28Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. 29He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired. 31Let them give thanks to the LORD for His loving devotion and His wonders to the sons of men. 32Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders. 33He turns rivers into deserts, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers. 35He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs. 36He causes the hungry to settle there, that they may establish a city in which to dwell. 37They sow fields and plant vineyards that yield a fruitful harvest. 38He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish. 39When they are decreased and humbled by oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. 41But He lifts the needy from affliction and increases their families like flocks. 42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth. 43Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.
Life is short. Where are you going?
You just read God’s own words, and one day every one of us will stand before Him. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). This life will be over sooner than you think — do you know where you are going when it is?
The Bible says, “Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). If you died today, would you be ready?
Are you a good person?
Most of us think we are. But God doesn’t measure us against other people — He measures us by His Law. Look honestly at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–17):
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make for yourself an idol.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness.
- You shall not covet.
Have you ever told a lie — even a small one? Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? Have you ever wanted what belongs to someone else? Jesus said that anyone who looks with lust “has already committed adultery … in his heart” (Matthew 5:28), and the Bible says “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15).
If we’re honest, we have all broken God’s Law — and “whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). “There is no one righteous, not even one … there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10–12).
That leaves every one of us guilty before a holy God. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). This is why our world is full of tragedy — and without Christ, every life ends in the greatest tragedy of all.
But God made a way
“God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the perfect life we never could, and on the cross He took the punishment we deserved: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Three days later He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
It’s like standing guilty in court when the judge steps down and pays your fine himself. Forgiveness is a free gift — you can’t earn it: “It is by grace you have been saved through faith … it is the gift of God, not by works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” Jesus — John 10:10
What will you do with Jesus?
“Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15). Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus alone — “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Don’t put it off — “now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
And when you turn to Him, you won’t be met with a frown — you’ll be met with a celebration. Jesus said, “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). God says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). He is “mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness … He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Like the father who ran to embrace his lost son, He is waiting with open arms — and heaven throws a party when you come home (Luke 15:20–24).
If you died today, where would you spend eternity? Today you can be forgiven, made new, and have real, abundant life — now and forever.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), which is in the public domain.