We know we are “where we have always been . .
. in God’s hands.” But, to change the figure slightly, “Thou hast . . . laid thine hand upon me.” And what does that mean?
It’s a gentle touch of reassurance, God gently laying His hand on our shoulder
as if to reassure and comfort us, to remind us, “You’re not alone; I’m here with
you.”
It means we are chosen by God,
It means we are directed
by God,
It means we are strengthened by God,
It means we are protected by God,
It means we are comforted by God.
Remember those moments in your life when someone
you love and have confidence in, touched you on your shoulder and even without a
word gave you that warm reassurance that helped you pluck up your courage and go
on?
I am reminded of that dramatic moment in 1521 at
the Diet of Worms (in Germany) when Martin Luther stood before the assembled
leaders of the Holy Roman Empire to tell them “my conscience is captive to the
Word of God! Here I stand! I can do no other.” And Justification by faith spread
throughout Europe, Sola Fide, Soli Gracia, Soli Deo Gloria. [Salvation is Only
by Grace through faith alone, to God be the Glory.]
As Luther made his way through that large
gathering, a knight reached over and patted him on the shoulder and told him (of
course, in German), “Pluck up thy courage, Little Monk, in the name of God, go
on!” It was a propitious moment and affected the whole course of
history—including your own
God has laid His hand upon us and we have never
been the same. In the name of God, we do go on. And God uses us for His glory
and the spread of the gospel and the edification and encouragement of our
brethen in Christ. What will it be like to see Jesus in His glory and hear Him
say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord!”
[Note: I took that picture in 1980 when my wife
and I were on our first visit to Europe on our 25th Anniversary. The building
is on the town square across from the Cathedral in Heidelberg,
Germany.]
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