Some years back, about this time, I had the privilege to preach the funeral of a dear friend. This old cowboy had lived a good life but not always a godly life. In fact, it wasn’t until a couple years before he died that I had the opportunity to lead him to Jesus. How special it was to know that God’s love had touched this man’s life and that he accepted Jesus as his Savior.
Dave and I made the trip from Montana to Nebraska for the celebration of his life. I remember asking him just a few days before he died if he was ready to see Jesus and he responded with a resounding “Yes, I just didn’t think it would be this soon.”
When we arrived at the funeral home his favorite saddle was positioned at the end of the casket and tied to the saddle was a pair of fencin’ pliers. This made me wonder, how many times he must have used those as he rode fence and checked on the cattle. He would stop, pull the wire tight and keep the cattle in the pasture where they were well fed and safe.
How many times have I needed a pair of spiritual fencin’ pliers? How many times have I needed to have the lines around me pulled tight and secured once again to a strong post? How many times have I tried to grab a loose strand of wire with my hands and been stuck on the barbs?
God cannot lie when He says something, and He does not lie when he makes an oath.
“So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT
To me hope is like a pair of fencin’ pliers. It pulls things up tight and keeps us for running into open pasture beyond the fence of safety that God has established for us.
“But the Lord is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” Psalm 94:22 KJV
Now this is definitely a play on words but I think we can all agree that the Lord is our de-fence.
God can’t lie. Trust His Word, it pull our fence tight, and He will keep us safe and sure.