“The Lord is your Keeper” (Psalm 121:5, ESV) and “Sustainer” (Psalm 54:4).
God’s Holy and unfailing Word repeatedly promises God’s enduring protection! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and the rivers will not overwhelm you, when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior” (Isaiah 43:2–3).
Though David had sinned with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah, he clung to God’s promise, singing, “The Lord is my shepherd… Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live” (Psalm 23:1, 4–6).
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, declared, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27–29).
And the Apostle Paul wrote, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 8:38–39) and “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).
Is this protection predicated upon a Christian’s feeble ability to hold on to God? No! God can make this unparalleled promise of Divine protection based solely upon His Omnipotent power! The best of us weren’t good enough to get saved, nor will any of us be good enough, or strong enough, to stay saved! It is by God’s grace, and His grace alone, that we can rest assured of His unfaltering love and our eternal salvation.
Unfathomably, God promised to be our eternal Keeper and Sustainer. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV). Written in red, Jesus promised everlasting life! No caveats! No stipulation! No exceptions! “Everlasting!”
The parable of the Prodigal Son teaches this beautiful truth. The thankless son demanded what wasn’t rightfully his. “Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me” (Luke 15:12). Obviously, the daddy wasn’t dead. The last will and testament wasn’t being read. The estate wasn’t being divided, but still the ungrateful son demanded, and the loving father gave, his inheritance. With pockets filled with gold, the wayward one traveled to Sin City to play the casinos, bet on the ponies, and carouse with prostitutes. “When he came to his senses, he said … I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:17–20).
The compassionate father might have said, “Get out! You are no longer welcome!” He didn’t. The“Keeper”and“Sustainer”welcomed his son home! Likewise, our Great Father promises to protect His children until that final day when He greets us with a warm welcome at Heaven’s doorstep.
