But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

Have you ever heard of Sultan Muhammad Ibn Daud?

Probably not, but if you were from Iran you would consider the sultan to be a combination of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. Sultan Daud ruled the country between the Tigris and Oxus river, and he did it well. He extended his nation's borders, and he brought riches and prosperity to his people.

Of course, Sultan Daud did not live forever. As often happens for a man who is bigger than reality, when Daud died it didn't take long before stories, myths and legends latched onto his life. Soon it was difficult to distinguish between truth and myth. That is why, when it was rumored the Sultan would someday rise and lead his people to new victories and greater riches, it was decided the nation ought to be kept in a state of readiness.

Part of those preparations involved having a horse ready and rarin' to go, for when the ruler arose. Beginning in the year 1072, a saddled horse, well, actually, a series of saddled horses, were kept standing at the sultan's tomb in Kuchan.

The calendars and the centuries rolled over.

When Columbus discovered the new world, the horses had been there for 420 years.

It is a tragic thing when folks put their faith in a messiah, who can never save. Still that is what many do when they put their confidence in an individual, in a leader, or someone whom they love. That is what people do when they allow themselves to believe in position, possessions or property.

In contrast to the world, Christianity believes in a Savior who was born in Bethlehem and crucified in Jerusalem. Of course, those two facts alone would not be enough to elicit anyone's confidence. After all, many have been born, and many have died.

What makes Jesus the world's one and only Savior is the fact that three days after He had been crucified, three days after His lifeless body had been placed into a borrowed tomb, He rose from the dead.

Jesus' resurrection is final proof that His sin-atoning, soul-saving, hell-destroying work was completed. God's promise had been fulfilled, and our transgressions have been removed; our sins have been erased.

Jesus' resurrection is undeniable evidence that in Jesus we have a special Savior, we have a living Lord, a redeeming Christ to whom we can turn in trials and sorrows.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the good news is this: our hearts may be filled to overflowing because we have a Savior who lives, and because He lives we shall live also. Now may we share the living Lord with all who hold to false and foolish superstitions. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Malachi 1-2    Revelation 21

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