“How far is the east from the west? Farther and farther by the moment. Travel west and you’ll never go east. Journey toward the east and you’ll never go west. . . . East and west have no turning points.”- Max Lucado
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”- Psalm 103 12 (NIV)
In Chapter 5 (“A Sure Salvation”) of Help is Here, Max Lucado talks about a bus trip he took to visit his grandparents. Max took the three-hour trip at the age of ten – alone. And as Max boarded the bus, his dad gave him some money to buy candy, paired with a handwritten note.
Just a few miles into the trip, Max retrieved the slip of paper. The note said he belonged to Jack and Thelma Lucado. In addition, the note contained the Lucado’s home address and phone number.
Therefore, Pastor Lucado underscores, it brings him great joy to say that God did the same with you. Above all, we need the protection. Because we often find that the world is a treacherous place. Also, God’s sons and daughters grow rebellious. Furthermore, the evil one tries to lure us.
Yet, Max stresses, the Holy Spirit once-and-for-all-time sealed us for redemption. Thus, the author notes, the Holy Spirit cocooned you, assuring your safe keeping. Therefore, Max encourages:
“When it comes to divine imprimatur, you and Jesus enjoy the same status. He said, ‘God the Father has set his seal on [Me}’ (John 6:17, NKJV). The Greek word used to describe both the seal of Jesus and the seal of the saint is identical. Would Jesus fear rejection from his Father? By no means. Should you fear the same? No! Not only are you sealed, you are adopted.”
Most significantly, Pastor Lucado states, our father-child relationship with God = one of assurance.
Today’s question: How do you react to Max’s statement that, like east and west, God has no turning points? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Written in God’s book with a pencil?”
