◄ What Does John 10:28 Mean? ►

The Lord Jesus is the good Shepherd of the sheep and He knows all the needs of His little flock. He protects them from danger, He finds them when they're lost, He understands their deepest concerns, and He provides for all their needs.

At His first advent, Jesus made it clear, through His words and His works, that He was their promised Messiah and the Son of the most high God. But He was misunderstood by the crowds and rejected by the religious leaders. They would not hear His voice, they rejected Old Testament truth, and altered many prophetic teachings with their private, esoteric interpretations.

Christ's disciples, however, had hearts that were open to the gospel. They heard His voice, they trusted His Word, and their faith expanded to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting: "You are the Messiah the Son of the Living God," was their confession, and they believed that God had sent Him into the world to save His people from their sin: "I give eternal life to them," was Christ's promise to those who believe, "and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."

He was their good Shepherd, and He is our good Shepherd Who has the words of eternal life within Himself. None can pluck us out of His hands, and no-one can pluck us out of the hand His Father. He is the great Shepherd of the sheep Whose blood has sealed the eternal covenant. He is the chief Shepherd Who has promised us the unfading crown of glory at His coming, and He is our faithful Shepherd, Who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

Eye has not seen and ear has not heard the glories that await those that trust Him, in the rich, well-watered heavenly home, to which we all are travelling. Salvation through faith in Christ is the great gift of life. Through faith in Him, we received abundant life and life eternal. It is a heavenly life that has been generously bestowed on all who trust their heavenly Shepherd. He gently leads each little lamb through the difficult places of life, and provides the necessary respite for all His people, on their weary, earthly journey.

He guards each one against every enemy and each danger that lies in wait to steal or harm or destroy. And, as if all this were not sufficient, He made a promise that should rejoice the heart of all His children, and calm every questioning soul: "No-one will ever snatch them out of My hand," were His comforting words. Nor can they be removed out of the hand of God the Father Almighty.

Nothing in heaven or earth can grab the sinner saved-by-grace from the protection of His holy hand. No-one in the earthly realm or spiritual sphere can steal our eternal joy, and nothing in the created universe has the power to remove the child of God from the hand of His Lord and Saviour. And may we never forget that His promises are all 'yes' and 'amen' in Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we consider the beauty of all that Christ has done for us, His gift of eternal salvation and the eternal security we find in Him, our rejoicing heart travels to Romans 12, where Paul calms each doubting heart with that memorable truth: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress separate us? Will persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword separate us from our heavenly Shepherd?" And the answer comes from the Word of truth as a resounding NO!

"Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

For we are ONE with HIM; He is ours and we are HIS. Hallelujah!

Loving Father, there have been times when I have questioned my eternal security in You, but You are my Good and faithful Shepherd Whose Word is to be trusted forever. Thank You that I am held so securely in the hands of my Lord and my Saviour, my God and my King, that nothing can separate me from Your wonderful presence. Thank You for my gift of eternal life and for the promise that nothing can snatch me from Your hand and no-one can separate me from Your gracious love. Glory to Your name forever and ever, Amen and Amen. Hallelujah! AMEN.