February 11, 2016
Sometimes I hear people share their testimonies, and in the midst they’ll make a comment like, “Brethren, pray for us that we’ll hold out faithful to the end.” I think I know what they mean, but I always smile a little bit because I have the following picture in my mind:
I see Noah and his entire family holding on to some slimy pegs sticking out the side of the ark. Rather than being on the inside of the ark, they’re holding on to the outside of the ark. And Noah says to Mrs. Noah, “Honey, pray for me that I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” Friend, he never would have made it.
But God said to Noah, “Come into the ark” (Genesis 6:18). Thank God that He did! And when Noah came in, God shut the door. The same God that shut the water out, shut Noah in. Now, Noah may have fallen down inside that ark, but he never fell out of it.
First Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” It’s not that we hold on to Him, though we ought to. But something even better is that He holds on to us!
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”