Friday, May 20, 2016

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see. -Thomas Chisholm, from the hymn inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23


My heart has been heavy within me as I have prepared for the study of the 28th chapter of C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters.

The arrogance and presumption of the demons that, given time, they might be able to "unravel the soul" of any of God's elect from heaven is galling.

But I am saddened beyond my ability to express sadness to know that some brothers and sisters in Christ are so foolish (and ungrateful) as to give credence to this outrageous lie from the pit of hell.

That our God, having saved us, is unable to preserve us in His salvation from the attacks of Satan.

That He might lose us, that we might be pried from His grasp.

That the devil, a mere creature, might thwart the will of his Creator
and defeat His holy purpose.

What then are we to make of Jesus' statement that He would lose none whom the Father had given Him (John 6:39)?

We have many promises of God's faithfulness in His Word. More than I could list here. No doubt, some of them come to your mind as you read this. Familiar verses, so precious and full of comfort.

And we have the testimony of our hearts as we recall with gratitude the mercies daily rendered unto us by our Heavenly Father's hand.

In this world, we may fall into sin, repent, and be forgiven.

But could we ever doubt God's preserving and sustaining love?

Be it not so, O LORD!