“THOU ART MINE”
P. Buchan
I thought we might continue to speak of the activities of our Lord and Saviour because this occasion is one when His love is exceedingly precious. The Lord Jesus would take advantage of a moment when hearts are tender to bring in a communication of His love and to comfort us, because there is no one who can comfort like Jesus. Of course, we also have the comfort of the Holy Spirit—what a Comforter He is!—and there is as well the comfort of the Father.
The Scriptures abound with references to the activities of the Trinity in love towards those who are the objects of divine love. I wonder if there is anyone here who has never known that love; it is an opportunity now for you to experience something of divine love in activity towards those who are its objects.
I thought that these precious words that the prophet utters may serve to afford an added touch of comfort to our hearts. He says, “But now thus saith Jehovah, that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel”. It is a direct word; God Himself is speaking. You can see that God was taking great care over someone who had been created, and not only created but formed. As we have looked at our dear brother we have seen formation being accomplished, a formation that is of God. Do you know what that formation is? It is conformity to the image of God’s Son.
Next we have this beautiful touch; He says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed thee”. What a word that is! I would say that to every sorrowing heart here, “Fear not”. Then He adds, “I have called thee by thy name”. He called our dear brother. I do not doubt at all that he heard that voice; he knew it, and could answer to it too; he knew when he was going to be taken. It is most touching that he knew that; and why was it so? Because he heard the call! Soon we are all going to hear the call, and, beloved, it is an individual touch—“I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine”. I wonder if there is anyone here of whom that cannot be said,
“Thou art mine”. I remember one who had turned out of the pathway saying that that word never left her; she clung to it and it brought her back to the Saviour. How precious it is to return; there is no change with the Saviour. His love is always the same. So Jehovah says here, “Thou art mine”, and He adds, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee”, and I would say to every sorrowing heart here, that is the word for today, and for the days that still lie ahead.
In the testings of the pathway, when passing through the fire and the water, or whatever it may be, you will find there is One who is very near and who will say, “I will be with thee”, and, beloved, He will be with you to the end of the journey. Such is the love of Jesus.
May our hearts be freshly comforted today by the One who Himself has been into death, the One who could say to John, “Fear not; I am the first and the last, and the living one—and I became dead, and behold, I am living to the ages of ages, and have the keys of death and of hades”, Revelation 1: 17, 18. There is no one like Jesus; He is living; He has actually been into death and has vanquished its power, and we gather here this afternoon with a triumphant note in our hearts because of the victory that He has won.
Word at the burial of Mr. George Coull, Aberdeen
10 January 1984