Safe in the Father's Hands: John 10:29

Three years ago I had the privilege of sitting alone with Tim's mother as she lay dying. There had been an all-night vigil with Tim and his siblings surrounding her, but at one point I found myself alone with her for a little while. I'll never forget it. I remember holding her hand, studying it, remembering all that she had done to serve me. Then my thoughts went to Tim. She had fed him, clothed him, comforted him, disciplined him, held a book to read to him, held his hand in hers, held him in worship, and prayed for him with those hands. Hers were wonderfully beautiful hands.

Hands. They are an important part of us. There is no other part of our body that can grasp something as securely and for as long as the hands.

Isn't it wonderful that Jesus uses this image to convey His and the Father's everlasting loving care of us?

This isn't poetry. The last words Jesus spoke as He was dying on the cross were, "Into Thy hands I commit my spirit." Jesus, too, was in need of the Father's hands. A split second after breathing out his last words Jesus experienced the full wrath of God. He knew what He was in for. He knew it was all up to God the Father from that point on. As he willingly submitted to the Father he confidently placed His life in the Father's hands.

And now He sits at the Father's right hand.

What are your fears? What keeps you awake at night? What do you find yourself worrying about? What would it take to make you be completely worry-free? How secure is secure for you? How could you know for certain that you are protected from danger, disease and death? Would hiring a personal physician and health guru help?

What about your home, your family, your "things"? Are they safe? Would you think it enough protection if you owned a guard dog? Or would installing a "Broad View Home Security System" give you peace? Or would you not feel safe until you built a fully stocked underground bunker, (just as the President would use in case of disaster - surely if it's good enough for the president than surely it should be good enough for you).

In John 10:29 Jesus tell us we are safe in the hands of the Father. Sounds nice, but how can we know for sure?

We can know for sure because, "He that secured the glory of the Redeemer will secure the glory of the redeemed." (Matthew Henry). If it was true for Jesus it is true for us.

"Nothing - nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:34). Because Jesus committed His Spirit into the Father's hands, and because Jesus now sits at the Father's right hand, we can be confident that we, too, are safe in the Father's Hands. It doesn't get any better, or safer, or more secure than that.

by Gayline Shorey