The Saving Hand of Our Lord Jesus Christ

One day, an artist with his teacher went up into the mountains to paint. He set up his easel and began painting. After a while, he finished. As the painting was quite large, he backed away from it, to appreciate his beautiful creation from a distance. He was unaware that he was backing off towards a sheer drop over the cliffs into the deep ravine below. His teacher saw that he was totally entranced in his own work, and that there was only one way to save him. He took up some of his paints and threw them onto the painting, thus destroying it. The artist was furious.

Why did you do it’?” he shouted.

“Go and see where you were standing just a few seconds ago, replied his teacher.

The artist went back to the spot where he had been standing, and it was only then that he realized that his teacher had saved his life.

This story illustrates our relationship with the Lord and what He does to save us.

When we first believe in God, it seems that His grace is fresh, new, and living. We dare not neglect His teachings. But after a period of time we become less alert and begin to slacken in our faith. Perhaps in pursuing our career we are ensnared by the temptations of wealth and self-glorification. Gradually we begin to look lightly on the Truth and the teachings of God, and stray from His loving arms. Intoxicated in our own success, we fail to realize that we are standing on the edge of a spiritual precipice and almost falling over. We cannot see the Lord’s anxious face or hear His loving call anymore. At this point the Lord intervenes, not willing to see us die spiritually. He reaches out and shatters our beautiful but dangerous dreams.

Startled, we become angry and complain to the Lord. We bring all our discontentments to Him and blame them on Him. For the sake of our shattered pride we doubt God, and question Him: “Why, God, why?”

It is only when looking back and considering carefully that we discover how God with His merciful love has saved us from the deep, dark valley of sin and wickedness.

What we see as trials is actually the grace of God showered upon us to improve us spiritually. When facing trials, instead of grumbling to God, let us pray to Him, kneeling before the throne of grace and asking Him for spiritual strength and wisdom. The Lord Jesus will wipe away our tears, and we will surely see the light of God shining radiantly before us.

            “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with condifence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ (Heb4:14-16).

            “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:11).