Isaiah 49:16 - Carved in Stone

"I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me."

Has your beloved ever done something to show you that you are the center of his/her universe?  Like tatooing your name on his/her arm or chest?  Permanent.  There for the whole world to see forever.  Unforgetable and Unremovable.  Alas, it is not always so.  Hearts change and so do tatoos.  Names can be redesigned into something else and even removed entirely.  The heart is fickel and allegiences change.

But not so with God.  When He says, "I will not foget you", He means "I will not forget you!"  The word of the Lord is true and amen. 

He says to us, "look".  "LOOK!  What do you see on the palms of my hands?  Huh? Huh?  What?  That is a permanent mark that can never be irradicated, it is there for all eternity.  What do you see?"

A nail hole.  A permanent-for-all-eternity scar.  A nail hole with MY name on it.  Every time Jesus looks at his hands, he says "ah, yes, my daughter Linda".  MY name is continually in front of my Lord's eyes.  And so is yours.

My pastor takes pictures of everyone in the congregation.  Sunday mornings before church you can see him zipping around the church with his little digital camera snapping away at unsuspecting folks.  Then he puts the pictures on his computer and when the faces start appearing, he lifts that person in prayer.  How awesome is that?  His camera and his computer are his prayer-prod.  He knows he can't simply remember everyone, so he uses technology to help him to be a better prayer for his flock.

Throughout our lifetime, hundreds, thousands of people come and go.  Most of them we forget (be honest now).  A few people have photographic memories and computer-like brains, but the majority of us mortals are so very forgetful!  And I lead the list.  But the Lord God Almighty said "I will never forget you!"


Jesus doesn't need any prayer-prod.  If He had not died for us, He would still know us.  But the nail holes in his hands remind US that he remembers US by name.  

Now look at your hand, palm up.  Envision a nail hole, with your name etched around it.  It's carved so deep it goes clear through to the other side.  That's what Jesus sees ever time He looks at his hand.  He sees YOU !!  And he REMEMBERS you!!  And he INTERCEDES for you!!  Oh, saint of God, it don't get no better than that!!!!!!!  And not just one hand, but on both, for the scripture is written in he plural. 

Do not take for granted your place as a saint of the Lord.  You may be unknown to the world, but you are VERY well known, and remembered to the Lord.  You are eternally  unforgetable. 

Sweet, precious Jesus, I fall on my knees when I think of your overwhelmingly great love for me.  You have carved me into your hands. Oh my Lord, how much I love you.  Help me to be the child that you envision.  Help me to be, just like you.  Amen.