Strapped and Secured

Strapped and secured. Now, those are two words that should be familiar with us, hopefully. As most of us head off to work or to the store or wherever, we should find ourselves strapped and secured by the seat belts. As it is required by law, I pray that is a familiar experience for
us. Though uncomfortable, they are designed for our safety and protection.

Well, I had an unusual experience that relates to much of what I am talking about. Yesterday afternoon I was knocked in the head with a 3 inch, 10 foot long, rigid metal pipe. I do believe
that was the worst pain I have felt in my life. As soon as it hit me, everything went black. I am not sure how long that was, but when I opened my eyes, I was on my back and could not feel my left arm and had little to no feeling on my whole left side. That set me into a panic. Thankfully, my co-worker had witnessed the whole event and was there immediately to stabilize my head and neck. After the initial shock, I began to calm down as my mind was filled with
Scripture:

“I give them eternal life, and know they will never perish, and no one will snatch
them out of my hand.” John 10:28 ESV

I am thankful this passage filled my mind and I found comfort in it. Now, I wasn’t only dwelling on this verse, but the whole chapter as well. It is a comfort to those of us in Christ to be reminded of these great truths. What dwelling on this verse did for me was to calm me quickly. Not just from the shock of the pain that I had experienced, but also to be reminded that none of this was truly an accident.

As I was strapped with a neck brace and head block and secured tightly to the EMT board (not sure of the correct word), I couldn’t help but think of a more fitting Scripture to enter into my mind. Being strapped that way was uncomfortable for me and I must admit I wasn’t too happy about it, because I am Closter phobic and don’t like not being able to move around freely. But thankfully, as was true physically, is true spiritually: Being strapped and secured in Jesus means it is for our good and we aren’t left to our own pleasures.

You see, Scripture teaches us that we ARE strapped and secured IN Christ Jesus. Nothing,
again, absolutely nothing can snatch us from His hand. We are secure IN Christ! That is a great comfort. Not only is it a comfort for the afterlife, but a comfort here, in the temporal. I can live without fear because I am secure IN Christ. I can live without worry, because I am secure IN Christ. I can live with full assurance and complete confidence, because I am secure IN Christ. What a beautiful testimony of the love of our Father, that it pleased Him that Jesus would die in our place, to atone for our sins, so that we can stand justified before Him and live with the assurance that we are His…. ALWAYS!


I pray that you find comfort in knowing that Christ didn’t just die for you, but He has strapped you and secured you by His work on the cross and that from that, nothing can snatch you from His hand!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved
by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-13