Those Everlasting Arms

--From Grace Gems at gracegems.org

However low we may sink!

(J.R. Miller, "Evening Thoughts" 1907)

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms!" Deuteronomy 33:27

Of course God has no arms; but He reveals Himself to us in human language--the only language we could understand.

We know what a mother's arms, a father's arms, mean to a child. But human arms are frail, and any hour their embrace may be withdrawn. The other day a child was grieving by his mother's coffin--but the arms which had clasped the boy always so tenderly, could not move to comfort him.

But the arms of God are "everlasting." God holds His redeemed children in the strong embrace of His love! No matter what may come to us of danger, of calamity, of terror--they will still and ever enfold us.

These arms of God are ever and always "underneath" us. However low we may sink away in pain, in weakness, in sorrow--we shall never sink out of the divine arms! Jesus said no one can snatch His loved ones out of His hands.

In death, when we shall sink out of every human embrace--we shall still be in the clasp of God's love and His everlasting arms will be underneath us. Such a word as this assures us of eternal security in God's love!

--In Addition, Dr. Morris

            No doctor is worth a flip unless he knows the value of the laying on of hands. I truly believe my patients received more benefits from my hands than anything else, because I always took their hand and held it--rubbed it, both male and female, young and old, any skin color, rich or poor. The human body is truly magnificent, God's chief creation. Have you ever considered these five-fingered things at the end of your arms. . . what they are capable of doing. . .playing a piano or any other instrument, intricate surgery, producing everything from work on a computer, to picking beans in the garden?

            The first pastor I can remember, my cousin, graduate of the First Free-Will Baptist College, held pastortes for over 75 years, was asked to superintend the denomination's orphanage during WWII. He told me that there were 80 children at the orphanage, and he had an annual budget of $10,000. Of course, back then, some great church member had left the orphanage a large farm. And the children worked on the farm. Also, back then, orphans were called inmates. He told me about one father bringing a child to him, court-judge's order, that the father had so abused the child, YET, he had to pry the child's fingers from the father because the child was holding onto the father so tightly. Abused children, abused wives, always hold on to the only arms of security that they know-- in spite of abuse. Dogs and other pets always return to a master who abuses them.

            Thank God, most pets, most children, most wives, and even old people, have known the security of loving arms; particularly, the everlasting arms of God. And, often, the only thing we have left to hold onto: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Foreign missionaries, soldiers on the front line in foreign battles, the sick and disenfranchised, have the everlasting arms of God on which to cling and rely. I think of my ancestors who landed in this country in 1611. Soldiers of the cross, who believed Christ when He said for us to go into the world and spread His Gospel (Mark 16:15). And those who set the standard, whom God will showcase for all eternity in heaven, of whom the earth was not worthy (Hebrews 11:38).

            Heaven is our goal, there is a cost to discipleship. No sin, no matter how small, will enter heaven. Today's Christian church is besmirched, bewitched (Galations 3:1). Oh, 21st century church, who has bewildered you? Fooled you? Snared you? into believing that even seekers, even the chosen, must repent, have new birth, have purity of heart, to see God. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

            This old, blind veteran would liked to have seen his parents before they were buried in the ground. But, I had the undertaker put my hands on their hands, so I could feel again the hands that had done so much for me. . . the arms that had carried so many burdens. The arms of my parents, grandparents, any other human beings I have known, cannot compare to the everlasting arms of God, that have picked me up, so many times, when I have fallen. It is good to build great buildings, great colleges, great hospitals, great homes, but then you have what churches, colleges, hospitals, homes can do. It is high time for those concerned about the plight of the church, healthcare, education, and home life, to start thinking about prayer for these institutions. Because, when you have prayer, then you have what God can do. The world needs more than any other time in history, what God can do.