Our City of Refuge

God, being a righteous God, did not want a person who had unintentionally killed someone to be killed by the avenger of blood (Deuteronomy 19:1-6). Hence the setting aside of refuge cities. However, any deliberate murderer had to pay for their crime (vv 1113).

In our lives we have not murdered anyone causing us to run to refuge city, but I know in the past we were of the world (sinners). When the word was preached to us, we shouted to the world our acceptance of the word and God’s mercy and symbolised it by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ through baptism. We are told that God sent his refuge city (Jesus Christ) that we should trust and believe in his promise of eternal life so that we might have life for ever (John 3:16; 1 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 5:11-12: 9:9-10).

Zambia has hosted many refugees from neighbouring countries who came, running away from wars in their countries. In like manner we have all run away from the love of the world (James 4:4), which is enmity with God. We have embraced the word by having His son as Lord in our lives (1 John 5:11-12). God has given us life through His son Jesus Christ. What is required of us is to live a Christ-like life: a life of service to our God, His son and our fellow human beings (Colossians 3:1-10).

Bro Jonathan Simumba (Ndola, Zambia)