Mayhem – violent or damaging disorder, chaos. Ever seen the star of the insurance commercials called Mr. Mayhem? He goes around highlighting all the different, crazy, often unexpected trouble people can get in to. While they are often larger than life examples, they always seem to have an element of truth in them. Life often seems like we are being chased by the Mr. Mayhem!
What version of mayhem is chasing you? Maybe it is a mountain of debt. Maybe it is paralyzing fear. Maybe it is the quicksand of depression, trouble with your children, or issues in your marriage. No matter the path you walk, you will be chased. God’s word assures us that we are going to be chased by trouble of many kinds. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Throughout scripture God assures that we will faces trials, tribulation, trouble, and assorted mayhem at almost every turn.
The insurance company cleans up after Mr. Mayhem’s shenanigans – and that is a good thing! It brings you a peace of mind, knowing that you have coverage … no matter the trouble you face. Having the all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, God of Heaven and Earth, God of all creation pursuing you with an unmatched, unfathomable God-sized love is the only true everlasting insurance you can ever acquire.
Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6
The word follow, Radaph in Hebrew, has a more accurate translation of ‘to chase after, to pursue.” David’s description is not of goodness and mercy that are merely plodding along behind but rather pursuing us … no matter where we go. David uses the two words ‘goodness’ and ‘mercy’ (ESV) to describe what pursues. Looking at these two words in Hebrew, Tov and Chesed respectively, we begin to understand even more just what is pursuing us.
Tov – good, perfect, the way things were meant to be
Chesed – loving kindness, steadfast love, covenant love
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love (chesed) for you will not be shaken. Isaiah 54:10
As certain as mayhem is, as certain as trouble will find us – God’s unmatched, unfathomable tov chesed (perfect love) will never waiver; it will never fail, and it is all the coverage you will ever need.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
THIS WEEK: Live your life not worried about mayhem … but focus on tov chesed.
-Pastor Brian