“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“Red Rover, Red Rover, send Johnny right over!”

So goes the invitation in this old playground children’s game. Have you played it? Although somewhat changed from its original rules, the game includes two lines of kids standing face to face some distance apart from each other. Each line is holding hands. The invitation is called out to a child from one line who then drops hands with their current team mates and runs with the determination to break through the arms of the other team’s line. If successful then the runner chooses a member of that line and walks them back to join the other team. If, however, the arms of the other team holds then the child is caught and is then added to their team.

I was struck with this image as I considered the promise of Jesus and His faithfulness. For not only is He with us in every moment in this life but He also is there when we are called home to glory. And it is His arms we run into, and it is His grasp that both holds us safe and adds us to His team.

He spoke this promise in Isaiah 41:10:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Theologically God’s right hand is referred to speak of His mercy, grace, and salvation. It is Jesus who won God’s gift of salvation with His death upon the cross. It is Jesus who rose again and ascended and is now seated at the right hand of God. This is for you! God called your name to Holy Baptism where He saves you with His righteous right hand, Jesus!

In a deeply committed love He holds onto you and will catch you. On that day, when your name is called, you will run into the arms of Jesus. He will welcome you into His kingdom where you will enjoy holding hands in fellowship with all the other saints who have gone on before.

It was the great hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, who penned these words in her hymn, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”:
“Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
Hark! ‘It’s the voice of angels,
Borne in a song to me,
Over the fields of glory,
Over the jasper sea.”

You are safe in the arms of Jesus.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for the great salvation that You have won for us. The fact that now, as You have called our name in baptism, we belong to You. And one day, when we pass through death, we will run directly into Your arms where You will receive us and welcome us. And together with all the saints, we will join hands and gather around Your throne and worship You forever. Keep us in this hope and in this confidence. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.