Some years ago on a hot summer day in South Florida a young lad decided to go for a swim in the pond behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He jumped into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the pond an alligator had found his way into the pond.
His mother, looking out the window, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the boy became alarmed and began to swim to his mother.
It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him and locked his jaws onto the boy’s legs. From the dock, the mother grabbed her son by the arms in the same instance. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.
A farmer who happened to be driving by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim, and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after several weeks in the hospital, the boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious alligator attack. On his arms were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after his recovery asked if the boy would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs and with obvious pride said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go !!”
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding onto you.
The Scripture teaches that God loves you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril – and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.
That’s when the tug-of-war begins, and if you have the scars of His love on you be very, very grateful.
Remember that He has the scars in His Hands, feet, head, back, and yes, even His heart, to show you how much He loves you. He did not, and will not, let you go.
Romans 8:38
For I am persuaded that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God
which is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!