Two year old Silas has a funny way of asking us to put him down. “Oh the down,” he says wistfully with a sigh that communicates far beyond his years. If we don’t do it fast enough, he squirms to the point that we put him down in self-defense. At nearly thirty pounds now, he is getting a little too heavy for this grandma to handle without his cooperation. The eye surgeon probably wouldn’t be too happy either.
I would hold him longer if he would let me. I would hold him all day and all night. I can’t get enough of holding him, in fact, but I don’t want to make him stay in my arms. Holding a prisoner is not the same as holding a cherished grandchild.
Too many folks have the wrong idea about the security of the believer.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand, John 10:27-29.
As long as we stay in God’s hand, we are safe. He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can stand. He will give grace that not only forgives our sins, but helps us through the storms of life. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, Paul reminds the Romans in 8:39. There is your security of the believer.
But God will hold no prisoners. As soon as we start squirming, as soon as we wistfully sigh, “Oh the down,” he will let us go. Unlike aging grandparents, he could hold on to us, but God wants a child who wants to be in his arms, not one who kicks and screams and begs to be let go. We will have no one to blame but ourselves if we lose our souls.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2 Pet 2:20.
You know what? Many times after I put him down, Silas comes running back. “Grandma!” he says with arms held up high, and I will pick him up gladly, even if my back does complain a bit. There is yet another bit of security. God will pick us up when we come back, eager to be held again in his loving arms. It is entirely up to us whether we stay there.
Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 1 Pet 1:5.
Dene Ward
I would hold him longer if he would let me. I would hold him all day and all night. I can’t get enough of holding him, in fact, but I don’t want to make him stay in my arms. Holding a prisoner is not the same as holding a cherished grandchild.
Too many folks have the wrong idea about the security of the believer.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand, John 10:27-29.
As long as we stay in God’s hand, we are safe. He will not allow us to be tempted more than we can stand. He will give grace that not only forgives our sins, but helps us through the storms of life. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, Paul reminds the Romans in 8:39. There is your security of the believer.
But God will hold no prisoners. As soon as we start squirming, as soon as we wistfully sigh, “Oh the down,” he will let us go. Unlike aging grandparents, he could hold on to us, but God wants a child who wants to be in his arms, not one who kicks and screams and begs to be let go. We will have no one to blame but ourselves if we lose our souls.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 2 Pet 2:20.
You know what? Many times after I put him down, Silas comes running back. “Grandma!” he says with arms held up high, and I will pick him up gladly, even if my back does complain a bit. There is yet another bit of security. God will pick us up when we come back, eager to be held again in his loving arms. It is entirely up to us whether we stay there.
Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 1 Pet 1:5.
Dene Ward
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