“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which He hath given Me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6:39
Dear Ones:
At the end of the day, or at the end of life on this earth, that which is the great comfort and certainty of the Christian, is that God will NOT let him go. Paul declared that, “…(nothing) shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38) Note that Paul specifically speaks of the love of God, a love which cannot “let go.” It will not let go, or relinquish, indeed, it cannot. Why? It is because of a work on Calvary which is perfect, sealed, and confirmed. So complete was the work that sin was completely dealt with, a new creation was born, and a union was established between the Holy Spirit and the soul of the believer. The clearest and most powerful demonstration of the commitment of God to “hold” us, even when we are in our weakest and most vulnerable moment, is the supreme demonstration of the love of God, a perpetual, unchanging love. It is a love which defies the blast of all demonic power and powers of nature, and that of the will of man. It is a Love which has overcome all opposition to it, even death itself, to declare “It is finished,” and “I am the resurrection and the life…I have overcome the world.” Christ is love, and everything that he has declared is the expression of that love, a love that will not let us go. But, one may ask, “What bearing does this knowledge have on us today, who are living on this earth?” And, “Should it not impact us, transforming the way we live?”
It was Charles Wesley, who wrote the following stanza to his great hymn, Jesus, Lover of My Soul: “Jesu, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Savior hide, Till the storm of life be past; Safe into the haven guide, Oh, receive my soul at last.” What is Wesley seeking to convey to us? It is first and foremost, that Jesus Christ has SET His love upon Wesley, and Wesley knew it, choosing to live in the reality of it. Secondly, because of that love, Wesley KNOWS that this Sovereign Lord will always receive him, and meet him, when “the nearer waters roll,” and “the tempest (storm) is high.” In other words, God will NOT forsake him in the storm, when the overwhelming reality of one’s limitations is confronted by powers and circumstances that risk to overpower, and destroy him. The appeal, and statement of faith, in His keeping power and goodness, is found this aspect of his prayer: “Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past.” Here is a man who believes in the power, goodness, and mercy of God, who WILL meet him in the storms of life, ever “keeping” Him in the hollow of His hand, never forsaking him, and always sufficient to meet the need. Lastly, Wesley is assured of the security in trusting in the love of God with regard to dying, “Safe into the haven guide, Oh, receive my soul at last.” Herein is rest, resting on the Faithful One who IS love.
Dear Father, give us also to pray and sing that which Your servant, M. Shekelton wrote: “Oh, fill me, Jesus, Savior with Thy love! Lead, lead me to the living fount above; Thither may I, in simple faith, draw nigh, And never to another fountain fly, but unto Thee.” And finally, with G. Matheson, give us grace to sing: “O Love, that wilt NOT let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee, I give Thee back the life I owe, That in Thine ocean depths it flow May richer, fuller be.” We praise and thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad