I CAN GO HOME ON THAT!
Isaiah 42:5-8 Thus saith God the Lord , he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
[6] I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
[7] To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
[8] I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
Once in a rare while, some of us are blessed to be able meet a Christian or know personally someone like the Apostle Paul was describing to us in (2 Cor 2:15) above. Their walk with Jesus is so sweet that is puts off a smell that not only is pleasant to God the Father but to everyone around them. This type of person has a faith and power with God that forever changes the earth and those around them by what they leave behind in death. I recently read about Frances Havergal. She was one that made an impact on those around her, both on Christians and on those who were still in darkness. From the imprint her life and testimony left on others, she must have been the type of person who Paul was writing about in our text.
She was an English Christian poet and author. She lived a life so genuine and wholly devoted to God that she had a powerful influence in the hearts of Christians. From a young age it was apparent that she was uniquely gifted. She was reading by the age of four and began writing at the age of seven. She authored numerous hymns, volumes of poetry, gospel tracts and children’s literature. She spoke several languages including Greek and Hebrew and memorized the entire book of Psalms, the book of Isaiah and most of the New Testament!
She died at the young age of 42 and upon her tombstone was the verse of Scripture she claimed as her very own favorite, (1 John 1:7) “and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Upon her death bed, on the last day of her life, she asked a friend to read Isaiah Chapter 42 to her. When her friend read verse six, “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee,” Frances Havergal stopped her at that point, she whispered with the last bit of strength she had and said, “I have been CALLED, I have been HELD, and I have been KEPT… I can go home on that!” She did go home on that word from the Lord, resting in the faithful promise and remembrance of who her God was.
One of her best loved songs was, “Like a River Glorious”. The third verse reads like this:
Every joy or trial falleth from above, Traced upon our dial by the Son of Love; We may trust Him fully all for us to do; They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.
My Christian friend, it was true for her, and it is still true for us today. God is wholly true to those who trust in HIM wholly. Even when it seems as though God has forgotten you, HE never has and never will. We can trust HIM, resting fully secure in HIS unfailing love for us. It’s my prayer for you today, just like Frances Havergal, that you will take the Lord and HIS promises and just TRUST HIM! If you have been CALLED and born again, know that Jesus will HOLD you and KEEP you! Starting today, may your walk with God put off a fragrance so sweet that everyone will know that you have been with Jesus! We can all GO HOME ON THAT!!!
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
Comentários