NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND!

Jesus says about His sheep:

• John 10:28-30 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone 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 My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”

We love finding comfort in the above verses, but what did He say in the preceding verse?

• John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

The original term for “hear” is “akouó” (“ἀκούω” in the Greek alphabet), which according to “Thayer's Greek Lexicon, STRONGS NT” 191, means: to yield obedience to the voice: (οἱἀκούσαντες namely, τῆς φωνῆς); and is used like that in John 5:25, John 10:16, 27, John 18:37, Revelation 3:20. 

The verse is translated in other versions as: “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” (NIV and NLT)

It is not enough to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He sacrificed Himself, for us to become “sheep of the Lord." After we receive the seed of God's Word in our hearts, our spirits become born-again. We have to have such a real relationship with Jesus, that we hear and recognize His voice... and not just hear, but obey. Only after we quit making decisions lead by our flesh and soul (mind, will and emotions) and we start seeking the Lord for counsel and applying His wisdom and guidance then we live more obedient lives and become more Christ like. God knows everything about us, but He never forces us to share it all with Him. It is up to us to do it so that we can have a deeper and better relationship with Him.

• John 6: 37-40 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus is actually saying that no one, not even the enemy, can steal us out of His or Father's God hand; but He doesn't say anything about "our will" here. In other words, as long as we want to stay close to God, no one and nothing can convince Him to give up on us. What a marvelous truth! 

Jesus also says that God's will for us is to be His for eternity! God created man for this purpose. Our time on earth, prepares us for eternal life. Our whole existence is a  series of tests and trials, so we prove our love and faithfulness for God. We grow as we pass the tests by trusting God and obeying His will.

I have heard some say they don't care for Heaven, that it is a boring place and not for them. God would not force anyone to do something against their will. Why would He  force someone who doesn't love Him or care to be around Him, to spend eternity in Heaven, in His presence?

So what am I saying here? We can't be sure if we are saved? Oh yes, we are saved, as long as we love God and live in obedience to Him.

Sincerity, obedience, genuine love, fear of the almighty God, passion for the word, prayer and worship are all essential keys in keeping our salvation to the end.

The point is, that if when we die, we are not standing right with God, it doesn't matter if we served Him most of our life. It is not how we start that counts, but it is how we finish that matters.

Our Lord is certainly worthy of our love, dedication, adoration and obedience! He loves us so much that "He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Thank You Lord God!


Carmen Pușcaș