A Chinese preacher observed two mothers in the animal kingdom. In a forest in southeast Asia, he saw a rather large monkey with several babies piled on her back like acrobats in a circus. When she would swing from one tree to another the little monkeys would lose their grip and fall to the ground. The mother would jump down, let the little ones pile on top of her and try it again.
In a village, a mother cat was observed. When danger was sensed, she quickly put a kitten in her mouth, ran to a safe place, then went to get another. There was no way any kitten would be dropped as the mother cat hid her babies.
After sharing these stories, the preacher would ask, “Which illustration best fits our relationship to the Heavenly Father? Are we to hang on with all our might, wondering when we might fall? Or are we in a grip that cannot be broken?”
In John 10, Jesus talked about being the Good Shepherd of His sheep. Before He spoke of being a Shepherd, He claimed to be the gate for the sheep. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” Many listeners thought this Teacher had gone off the deep end. “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
But Jesus is no lunatic. He knows He is the only safe place and He wants His sheep to know they are eternally secure in Him. Only faith in Jesus brings such a position. I have learned I have no strength on my own. Without His grace, I could have never been saved and without His grace, I will not be able to finish the race. Thankfully, hope does not rest in me. Hope rests in the secure grip of a Father and Son. “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 can 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.”
“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 24-25