“He
is able to save completely.” (Hebrews 7:25)
From
the day the Children of Israel left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea heading for
the Promised Land, God had always showed Himself strong on their behalf.
Despite their murmurings and complaints, they never lacked food, water or
shelter until they took possession of the Promised Land. He shielded them from
their enemies “by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night” for
their safety. Except when they sinned (which brought about separation) did He
leave them at the mercy of their enemies; otherwise none of the armies of the
pagan nations through whose land they passed could confront them. Moses had
told them in no uncertain terms that “the Lord will fight for you” and He did.
He saved the Children of Israel from the hands of Pharaoh’s army and the kings
of the pagan nations.
He
had said: “My purpose will stand and I will do all that I please. What I said,
that will I bring about; what I planned, that will I do.” (Isaiah 46: 10-11) No
other earthly deity can stand in His way. No force can challenge Him. He is the
Almighty, the All-Powerful.
Our
Lord Jesus told His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me” (Mathew 28:18) thus confirming the source of His authority that He
was giving to them as coming from the Father. With this authority, they could
go and change the world, literally turn it upside down.
God
is our Saviour. He saved us from the hands of the evil one. He is able to lift
our heads high above principalities and powers. It is He “... who is able to
keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without
fault and with great joy – to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power
and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, ...” (Jude 24-25) You will not
hit your feet against a stone and fall because He watches over you, day and
night. He never slumbers nor sleeps. He provides all-round security and
protection’ twenty-four hours.
The
lives of the patriarchs - Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and Jacob - have undoubtedly
demonstrated the works of the mighty hand of God over His people throughout Old
Testament times. It is not any different now. God has not changed. He is the
same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is still able to save
completely. We, the Church of Christ, can still look to Him, and call upon His
name, to save us from any and every situation or circumstance. “Now unto Him
who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Jesus
Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)
God operates in the realm of the superlative – ‘more than all,’ ‘beyond
measure,’ ‘exceedingly,’ ‘abundantly.’ Can we keep up with His pace?
It
is time to quit our self-efforts and cling unto Jesus, Emmanuel (God with us)
and now in us. He has already done all that needs to be done for the salvation
of humanity and there’s nothing any one can add or subtract. At the cross, He
declared; “It is finished!” The work He came to do on earth was accomplished.
At the cross, He paid for our sin-debt in full, and He did it once (one time)
and for all (everybody, irrespective of race, creed or language). All those who
believe in Him, all those who will call on His name, will be saved from dying a
death without hope. He alone offers eternal life (understand the God-kind of
life) to His followers. Remember that we were meant to live forever; it was
Adam’s sin that brought about death. Where however the first Adam failed; the
second Adam (Jesus), brought life; everlasting life. By offering Himself as the
sacrifice for sin, Jesus has saved everyone who calls on His name from sin and
death to life everlasting.
“It is I, speaking in righteousness, Mighty to
save.” (Isaiah 63:1c)
“I
will contend with those who contend with you and your Children I will save.”
(49:29b) He has never lost a battle, because clearly He is matchless,
invincible.
There
is no catch here. God is aware of the fearful and doubters, because the world
offers nothing free. God will back His word. He is not a man to lie nor the son
of man to repent. “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He
will come to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)
We
do not gain access to eternal life by our deeds (only the blood of Jesus can).
It is not about what you and I will do or have done that will take us to heaven
but what the Lord has done that is acceptable in the eyes of the Father that
will qualify us. So stop trying to win your way to heaven. God sent His Son to
qualify the unqualified. He says ‘Only believe!”
“Then
you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be
disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:23c)
