today! - Jack Van Impe Ministries

8 | Perhaps Today | July–August 2010
even more eloquently to the
troubled heart — Now unto him
that is able to keep you from
falling.... (Jude 24). Do you
grasp the profound message of
those simple words?
The Shepherd keeps
us from falling
When hope is gone and
strength has failed, He is able to
keep you from falling.
When sorrow and sadness
have bowed you to despair, and
you are ready to cast yourself
down in the pit — He is able to
keep you from falling.
When you have exhausted all
resources, and the enemy of
your soul is closing in for the kill
— He is able to keep you from
falling!
When the toils and trials of
this world have ground you
down, and you barely have
enough strength left to take one
more step — He is able to keep
you from falling.
The Great Shepherd will not
let you fall! He will assist you,
calm you, support you, protect
you, sustain you, shelter you,
nourish you, and lift you up. Oh,
yes, life ultimately will take you
to the place where you must
walk through the valley of the
shadow of death. There is no
way to avoid that pathway. But
you can walk into the darkness
unafraid, fearing no evil. Why?
Because the Good Shepherd
is with you, comforting you,
anointing you, making a way for
you where there seems to be no
way.
Do you have that kind of
relationship with God, the
Shepherd? Have you ever
exclaimed, with David, But as
for me, my feet were almost
gone; my steps had well nigh
slipped (Psalm 73:2)? Of course,
you have. How did you make it
then, and how will you make it
today and tomorrow? My flesh
and my heart faileth: but God
is the strength of my heart, and
my portion for ever (verse 26).
Some people are reluctant to
give their hearts to God because
they are afraid that living for
Him will be too hard. They are
afraid to set out on that narrow
road for fear that they will
stumble and fall. At first it seems
so much easier to walk on the
world’s broad road. But too
soon that thoroughfare leads to
destruction.
When the devil’s easy road
begins breaking up, where do
its sojourners turn for help?
There is no one. When illness
strikes, there is no healer. When
heartache devastates travelers
on Broad Avenue, there is no
comforter, no one to talk to.
When trouble crashes down on
every side, there is no place to
turn for help.
Through the straight gate
and on the narrow road, the
thirsty are led beside still
waters and the despairing
receive restoration for their
souls. And the one who
wanders astray is
rescued by the
Shepherd, who
picks up the lost
and carries him
back to safety.
In our
journeys
to the Holy