Nothing can Snatch us from His Hand
It might shock you to learn that I have struggled with the idea of “once saved, always saved”. I’ve heard a lot of errant philosophy attached to it. Additionally, I have also struggled with some scriptures in the Bible that I believed indicated a possibility of losing salvation. Before, I incur the wrath of critics…be patient and let me share with you my recent journey in this.
For whatever reason, the Lord has chosen to settle this matter in my heart in the last few weeks. I say it that way because I have been on the fence about this issue for quite some time, but His timing is perfect and He knew I was ready to hear Him in this. The Lord used a conversation, a passage of scripture, and a couple of songs to resolve the point.
After a conversation with a friend, where I admitted that this matter was still undecided for me, I walked away questioning myself: “Why? Why is this not settled in my heart?” I went home that evening and all I could think about was John 10:27-30: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall 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 can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
I knew that I believed this—that no one could snatch me from the Father’s hand…then why was it still an uncertainty? In retrospect, I think feeding my indecision was my own personal fear that I could somehow take myself out of God’s hands, that my wrong-doings after salvation could separate me from Him. This fear inside of me could imagine a place where I could go so far as to remove myself from God’s grace, but…that was the problem…I was filtering everything through me.
I was focused on my frailty instead of HIM and His firm and immovable promises. That night, I was able to reconcile myself to this: I genuinely gave my life to Jesus, accepting Him as my Lord and Savior, so that means that I belong to Him…FOREVER. I am HIS, and NOTHING can snatch me from the hand of my Savior.
After that night, though I felt more confident, there was still a niggly-wiggly uncertainty clinging to me…until a couple of weeks ago. I woke up in the middle of the night to a song reverberating in my heart and mind. I knew it was the Lord, and so I listened carefully to the lyrics playing round and round again, “I’m still in Your hands. This is my confidence.” And I understood it was the Lord confirming His word.
And then, in His great compassion for me, He gave me this song recently on the radio. The moment it came on, it broke me and I wept. I clearly heard the Father speaking the truth that was holding me back…: “You’re the God who stays…And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart from the God who stays.” He knew that I needed to hear those exact words to settle the matter.
Take away? #1 Trust in God’s promises. No one can fathom the depth of God’s grace, compassion, and love. The Father is always waiting for us with open arms. #2 Our Savior’s love knows no bounds and if we mess up and sin after salvation, and we go to Him and repent, He will forgive us. Nothing can snatch us from His hand…this is our confidence.
Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member