Wednesday Word, April 29, 2015: Holding On to Spikes
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:25
If we are saved by grace through faith, we are safe. Since Christ alone is our Saviour, we do not look to our good works or fine intentions to supplement what Jesus has done for us in his doing, dying and rising again. We are safe. He bought us with blood, His own precious blood and He doesn’t intend losing anyone whom He purchased. Not only so, but at this very moment He is making intercession for us. I have confidence in Christ and His prayers being heard. Don’t you? My question is, are you enjoying the saving power and ability of the Lord Jesus.
Noah is a very striking example of someone who enjoyed the very thing we are talking about. By faith, he prepared an ark to preserve his family. He built and constructed his big boat even when there seemed to be no evidence of a coming flood. By faith, he obeyed God and entered the ark, with all his household, when commanded by God to do so. Now, get this, all inside the ark were secure until the deluge was over. They were kept by an omnipotent power. The ark bore all the brunt of the storm. This is a picture of how Christ bore the downpour of the wrath of God which should have come straight at us.
One preacher of a past generation said it like this, “The ark was a type of Christ. All who are in Christ are eternally secure. Suppose when the ark was completed God had said, 'Now, Noah, go and get eight large, strong spikes and drive them into the side of the ark.' Imagine Noah procuring these spikes and doing as commanded. Then when each spike was securely fastened, let us presume that God said, 'Come thou and all thy house and take hold of these spikes, and all who hang on the end of the flood will be saved.' How long do you think Noah and the rest would have been secure? I can imagine each one taking hold of a spike – then the waters rising as the rain poured down. In a few minutes, they would have been soaked to the skin. Then think of the terrific strain on joints and muscles as the ark was lifted from the earth and began its perilous voyage through the raging waters. I think I hear Noah calling to his wife, 'How is it going; is all well?' And she calls back, 'I’m holding on. Do pray for me that I may be able to hold out to the end!' Soon, poor Mrs Noah would cry out, 'It’s no use, can’t hang on any longer.' And she would let go and be swept away by the flood. How long do you suppose it would be before each one of them would be obliged to let go and so go down to death?”
Hallelujah, God be praised, that is not a true picture of His salvation. He is not calling us to hang on the best we can to Christ. No indeed, just as Noah entered into the Ark and found perfect security, so every believer is in Christ and thus saved for eternity. It is not a question of our ability to hang on, but of Christ’s ability to take us safely through to glory.
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”
And that’s the Gospel Truth!