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Jesus promises to be with us to the end of the age. We know this because we know God’s Spirit fills our lives and guides our paths. We see this day by day. This promise of God - to be with us and watch over us - runs through Scripture. It brings great comfort.

One of the most well-known passages that reminds us of this promise is Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— here does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

This psalm gives us something physical to do to help us remember: to lift our eyes to the mountains. In Vancouver, this is easy because we see snow-capped mountains most days. So, as we lift our eyes, the psalm tells us, we are invited to see the strength and intensity of God’s presence. The Lord keeps us from slipping; he protects us from harm; he shelters us from the effects of the world’s brokenness; he guards us throughout our daily routines, now and always.

Sometimes it’s not easy to see how the Lord is doing this. Like the mountains when they are shrouded in mist, their majesty masked, their strength veiled, so God’s presence can seem distant and hidden. Nevertheless, the mist lifts, the mask falls, the veil is torn. The mountains will be seen. And so it is with God’s presence: God is close and bright in our lives. God promises this. And his promise is true because Jesus is alive. Jesus will be with you to the end of the age.

視頻大意翻譯(video Chinese translation):

大家早。

耶穌應許他會與我們同在，直到世界的末了。我們知道這是真的，因為我們知道神的靈充滿我們的生命，引導我們的道路。我們每天都看到這一點。

聖經裡貫穿神的應許，他與我們同在，看顧我們。這帶來了極大的安慰。或許詩篇121篇,這最為人知的應許可以提醒我們神的應許。

我要向山舉目。我的幫助從何而來。我的幫助從造天地的耶和華而來。他必不叫你的腳搖動．保護你的必不打盹。保護以色列的、也不打盹、也不睡覺。保護你的是耶和華．耶和華在你右邊蔭庇你。白日太陽必不傷你．夜間月亮必不害你。耶和華要保護你、免受一切的災害．他要保護你的性命。你出你入、耶和華要保護你、從今時直到永遠。

這首詩給了我們一些用身體可以做的事情來幫助我們記住：抬起眼睛看著山，這個動作對我們來說很容易，因為我們在溫哥華大部分的時間都會看到白雪皚皚的山脈。

詩篇告訴我們，當我們抬起頭看時，我們被邀請看到神同在的力量和警覺性。主保守我們不滑倒;保護我們免受傷害;保護我們免受破碎世界的影響;他在我們的日常生活中保護我們，從現在直到永遠。

有時，並不容易看出主是如何做到這。就像山峦籠罩在薄霧中，它們的威嚴蒙著面，他們的力量被遮住了，因此似乎神的同在是遙遠而隱藏的。然而，霧氣散去，拿掉面具，面紗被撕裂。山將被看見。神的同在近在咫尺在我們的生活中。這是神的應許。

我們知道他的應許是真實的，因為耶穌活著。他將與你同在，直到世界的末了。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum