"Hold to God's Unchanging hand."

     The title of this article borrows from a favorite hymn of many.  The words of this great hymn reflect Bible teaching regarding the security, support, and strength that comes to one who holds to the hand of God.

     In life there are many things that might cause us to be afraid.  People fear failure, the future, and death.  But there is security in the hand of God.  God says: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for l am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness....For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:10-13).  "Time is died with swift transition--Naught of earth unmoved can stand--Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand."

     God is always there to help and support.  When everyone else has gone home, the Lord remains.  "Trust in Him who will not leave you, Whatsoever years may bring, If by earthly friends forsaken, Still more closely to Him cling."  Blessed is that man of many years, standing by his dear wife's sick bed, who recalls these words: "When your journey is completed, if to God you have been true, Fair and bright the home in glory, Your enraptured soul will view."  Poor Lazarus was unknown and unwanted by men, but "when the beggar died,"  the angels of God came and escorted him into God's care (Luke 16:22).  God's support is promised in the words of the apostle Paul:  "There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).  "Hold to God's unchanging hand."

     Life has any number of valleys. Some of them dark and deep.  But there is strength to cross the deepest and darkest of life's valleys when we hold to God's hand.  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).  When Nehemiah faced the ruins of Jerusalem and the task of rebuilding he prayed, "Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands" (Nehemiah 6:9).  As the Psalmist declared: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).  The Hebrews writer teaches us that we can count on the promises of God, for it is impossible for God to lie and that this gives strong consolation to those who have fled to him for refuge, and a hope, as "an anchor of the soul," that is "both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:18-19).

Stephen Rook, preacher