Pearls of Great Value

Cling to Him 

Have you ever had a piece of clothing that was clingy? It’s annoying right? It refuses to let go no matter what you do. The other day as I was trying (without success )to get my skirt to stop from clinging, I thought..this is a good example of how I’m to cling to God. To stubbornly refuse to let go of Him. Good times, bad times, it doesn’t matter. He is to me a lifeline. I hold on. That’s my only job. To cling to Him. Hang on to His Word. No matter what, to never let go. Stay attached. He is the only anchor in these storm tossed waters we live in. He is a sure and steadfast friend to depend on. He is worthy. Definitely the one, and the only trustworthy one to cling on too! 

 

There is no better answer, than Jesus. There is no better way, than the Jesus way. There is no other hope by which I can be saved, than Jesus Christ. There are many things, many ways and ideas that man can hang on to, but none can satisfy and bring everlasting life. There is only one name that is all-powerful, a name above every other name, a name to which all other names have to bow and that is the name, Jesus Christ. Phil 2:9-11, tells us this: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

 So, go ahead and start naming names. A lot of us may hang our hats on to wealth, but even that name has to bow to the name of Jesus. How about fame and fortune? How about sickness and disease? How about doctors, lawyers, king and president? Doesn’t matter how much value or power we place on all these, there IS a name that is more highly exalted and favored. 

 Let’s not stop there, but let’s name some of our ideals and beliefs. You know what they are. Those thoughts and ways that exalt themselves in our lives. We count them more valuable than Him. (Even though we might not see or admit it). Can you think of a habit or a thing you do routinely, something which might be done for pleasure, or health, or financially or even for family that you never bring God into? That’s often an area where the enemy will try to gain a foothold, a door into our lives. Yet, the fact remains. That name also will have to bow to His name. Any name, by whatever it might call itself, that takes residence in our hearts and tries to reign, is a name that we have to bring under the authority of Jesus. 

 

What I’m trying to point out is this: anything, anyone, any ideas and thoughts,that we are tempted to cling on to in this life that isn’t Jesus Christ? It will fail us. All of it. Nothing earthly is worth clinging unto. It’s feathers in the wind. It’s ships without anchors. It’s building a house on shifting sands. 

 The question to ask, would be, “Do I find Him worthy to cling to? If not, why isn’t He? Cling means, to press hard upon, to be united, stuck together. Can I honestly say, when times get tough and I’m facing a battle, that I cling to His unchanging Truth? Do I truly believe that He is steadfast? Do I trust Him to sustain me?  Can I let go of my fears and cares and cling on to Him? I need to ask myself these questions on a daily basis and weigh myself on the scale of Faith. I don’t think it is okay to be okay with mediocrity in my life. I don’t believe that I can cling to Jesus and cling to earthly desires at the same time. That is counterproductive. It’s one step forward and then two back. It’s called being lukewarm in the Bible and God warns against  it: ““ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”  (Rev. 3:15–17 ESVi)

 You see, to be rich and have prospered without Jesus in this world is of no value to me in the eternal. The Bible says,You say you are rich have prospered and need nothing but don’t realize how poor and wretched we are. God is talking about the spiritual,our eternal value. What is your worth in the heavenly kingdom? I believe I’d rather be called poor in the natural than pitiable, poor, blind and naked in the spiritual. There is only one answer for this. It’s called,cling to Jesus.

 

“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.””  (Josh. 22:5

 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” (Prov. 18:10 ESVi)

 

Abba Father, I ask that you would give us the grace and wisdom to understand how vital it is to our spiritual well-being to cling to You. You are the giver of every good thing in and around us. It is good for us to cling to You! Thank you for Jesus, that He bears the name that is above all other names. Thank you that we can run into His name and be safe! In this precious name of Jesus we pray and say, Amen!