Up. It’s been the way of salvation since the beginning.

As early as Genesis, things and people have been raised UP for salvation.

The ark is perhaps the first example. This great boat, built with God’s direction, was raised UP over flood waters to keep Noah and his family safe for nearly a year.

In Exodus, the blood of a lamb was put UP over doorways to protect those who stayed inside from the Angel of Death. Soon after, God raised UP the deep waters of the Red Sea. Those Israelites that trusted and walked through were saved from Pharaoh’s army.

Moses then went UP to Mount Sinai where he was given God’s life-saving laws. God’s people were guided through the wilderness by looking UP to the pillars of fire and smoke for direction. Perhaps by the time poisonous snakes begin biting the Israelites, it wasn’t too strange for them to look UP for their salvation again.

God’s salvation has always required a receiving, a step of faith, a looking UP.

Instead of focusing on a pursuing enemy, a sinful culture, or an Angel of Death, we can look UP, too. It’s there where we find preservation from sin, from ignorance, and from being overcome. Whatever your trouble, stop and look UP.