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2020 has been a painful year. At PBC we’ve had to say goodbye to a deacon and friend. We’ve closed a ministry that was a part of this church for 37 years.

As a nation we’ve dealt with the death of Kobe Bryant, murder hornets, the stock market crash, a global pandemic, the shocking death of George Floyd, and now riots that are sweeping cities all over the nation.

Several years ago the former Batman star Ben Affleck was asked why people were so interested in superhero films. He said this: “There’s a lot of stuff going on in the world, from natural to man-made disasters, and it’s really scary. Part of the appeal of this genre is wish fulfillment: Wouldn’t it be nice if there was somebody who can save us from all this, save us from ourselves, save us from the consequences of our actions and save us from people who are evil?” 

When life hurts everybody looks to a savior. The question is not “will I look to a savior?” but will I look to a savior who can actually save?”

 In Lamentations 4, Jeremiah’s lament is nearing a conclusion. Jeremiah’s suffering continues, but now his suffering is helping him see clearly. Now his suffering is unmasking phony saviors. Notice verse 17, “Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; in our watching we watched for a nation which could not save.”

2600 years later, not much has changed. People still suffer. People still look vainly for help, watching for saviors that cannot save. As Christians, we know there is a Savior who can save. But until our phony saviors are unmasked, we will never look to Him. So stop looking to wealth, family, status, health, safety, government, or anyone and anything but Jesus. Jesus is the only Savior who can truly save.

Isaiah 43:11—I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

Hosea 13:4—I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.

John 14:6—Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.