"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand."
John 10:28-29
John 10:28-29
"When the night is holding on to me
God is holding on"
King of My Heart by Kutless
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, to kill and to destroy:
I am come that they may have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly."
John 10:10 (KJV)
John 10 has always been one of my favorite chapters.
Jesus is The Gate, The Good Shepherd.
"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
"He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
He knows ME by name. He understands my true nature. He changes my character.
He knows me perfectly.
Everything about me.
What I am good at doing.
The anxiety I carry from childhood.
The desires that are filled and unfulfilled.
My happiest times.
My most profound fears.
My eternal purpose, my highest possible joy and satisfaction.
Jesus goes ahead of me, always leading me, always close, keeping me secure.
He has come so that I might have life, more abundantly, life to the full.
I don't have to wait to enjoy this life in heaven.
He came so I can have abundant life here, now on this side of heaven.
I will be honest. I have heard this all my life. But I did not understand how I could enjoy abundant life here and now. But Jesus in His goodness and faithfulness has shown me how this can be.
Living life to the full happens when we live this life in His inexhaustible joy, peace, love, patience, self control, power, endurance and ability to meet every situation.
There is nothing that I will encounter on this side of heaven that Jesus cannot overcome.
Jesus is all powerful. He can choose to lay down his life and pick it back up. In His death and resurrection, He defeated Satan forever. Satan no longer has power. But because the day of judgement has not yet come, Satan has been allowed, by God, to continue his reign in this world. Satan continues to try to "steal, kill and destroy."
But I know my salvation is secure. My salvation cannot be "snatched" out of the hands of God.
Jesus is The Gate, The Good Shepherd.
"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."
"He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
He knows ME by name. He understands my true nature. He changes my character.
He knows me perfectly.
Everything about me.
What I am good at doing.
The anxiety I carry from childhood.
The desires that are filled and unfulfilled.
My happiest times.
My most profound fears.
My eternal purpose, my highest possible joy and satisfaction.
Jesus goes ahead of me, always leading me, always close, keeping me secure.
He has come so that I might have life, more abundantly, life to the full.
I don't have to wait to enjoy this life in heaven.
He came so I can have abundant life here, now on this side of heaven.
I will be honest. I have heard this all my life. But I did not understand how I could enjoy abundant life here and now. But Jesus in His goodness and faithfulness has shown me how this can be.
Living life to the full happens when we live this life in His inexhaustible joy, peace, love, patience, self control, power, endurance and ability to meet every situation.
There is nothing that I will encounter on this side of heaven that Jesus cannot overcome.
Jesus is all powerful. He can choose to lay down his life and pick it back up. In His death and resurrection, He defeated Satan forever. Satan no longer has power. But because the day of judgement has not yet come, Satan has been allowed, by God, to continue his reign in this world. Satan continues to try to "steal, kill and destroy."
But I know my salvation is secure. My salvation cannot be "snatched" out of the hands of God.
Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
No, in all things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that not even death or life,
angels or rulers,
things present or things to come,
hostile powers,
height or depth,
or any other created thing
will have the power to separate us from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Romans 8:37,39
Satan is a created thing. He is subject to God's Authority. He cannot snatch my salvation from the hand of God. My salvation is secure.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.
He anointed us,
set his seal of ownership on us,
and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit,
guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
And you were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed,
you were marked in him with a seal,
the promised Holy Spirit,
who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God's possession -
to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14
When I chose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He chose to suffer God's Wrath that my sin deserves for me, my heart was sealed by God. I became forever His. His seal of ownership is on me and it can never be taken away. My inheritance, eternal life in heaven with Him, is secure. Jesus sealed me with His name (Rev 3:12) and my name is engraved on the palm of His hands (Isa 49:16). Engraved on His hands!!! I am that precious to Him. Jesus didn't tattoo my name on His hands, He engraved it! It is NEVER wearing off, it will always be there! That kind of security should make me bold, filled with overwhelming confidence. And yet....
I am still crippled with so much fear, worry and doubt here in this life.
Why does Satan still bother trying to steal, kill and destroy?
Why do I still feel such a battle?
Why am I unable to live in His inexhaustible joy, peace, love, patience, self control, power, endurance and ability.
Why do fear, anxiety, stress, worry and doubt still hinder me from living my life abundantly here and now?
Why? Why? Why?
Satan cannot steal, kill or destroy my salvation, but he can steal, kill and destroy my love, my joy, my peace, my patience, my kindness, my goodness, my faithfulness, my gentleness, and my self-control. When he is successful at doing that, then my witness for Christ is destroyed. Others cannot see THE LIGHT, they are not drawn to Christ in me. I do not lose my salvation, but I lose God's ability to draw others to Him. Eternal Life for others will be destroyed. Satan may have lost me, but he doesn't have to lose others because of me.
Rick Atchley shared an interesting illustration in one of his sermons that I will never forget:
A girl and her boyfriend were satan worshippers.
The girl went to visit her college friends. While she was with her friends, she heard the Truth, was baptized. When her boyfriend heard, he was furious and came to talk to the minister. He told the minister God could not have her. He was about to leave when he asked, "Did you baptize her?" The minister replied that he had baptized her himself. The boyfriend turned to leave without her and said, "Then there is nothing that can be done. She is His."
I do not want others to lose out on Eternal Life because I have allowed satan to diminish God's Light in me. I know I am a sinner, I know I am unfaithful, I know I fail God in numerous ways on a daily basis, I know I am unworthy to be a Light bearer for Him. But my salvation does not depend my abilities, my faithfulness, or my loyalty. My salvation is based on the perfect Lamb of God.
Satan is darkness, he is the night that is holding on to me, trying his best to steal, kill and destroy any Light that might shine from me. BUT GOD is holding on. His grip on me is firm and strong. He will NEVER let go. Because I know this is true, I don't have to allow fear, worry, anxiety, guilt, shame or doubt prevent me from having life here and now more abundantly.
