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An excellent illustration of soul-safety in connection with the hymn "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
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Have you ever felt yourself to be in any sort of danger and wished for a safe and secure hiding place? Most of us have felt threatened at one time or another and have been thankful to find shelter. Maybe you are somehow still looking for peace, safety, and security. God has it for you—and He has it available and ready for you now!
An interesting illustrative story is told of Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a famous British preacher and hymn-writer. As the story goes, Charles was sitting at his desk when a small bird (perhaps a sparrow), pursued by a hawk, flew in a nearby open window. The bird fluttered about the room a bit and then it settled on Charles’ chest and clung there. Of course, the hawk did not follow the bird into the room; and so the bird was safe. Charles held the trembling bird for a little while; and, then, when it appeared safe to do so, he took it to the window and released it.
We can understand why Charles apparently thought it rather remarkable that this bird had come to him for refuge; and, upon considering the event, he was prompted to compose a new hymn—one which has been widely appreciated and heartily sung for the about 280 years since it was written:
Jesus, Lover of My Soul
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
Lo! on Thee I cast my care:
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
Dying, and, behold, I live!
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name;
I am all unrighteousness:
False and full of sin I am
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art
Freely let me take of Thee:
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity!
Is it any surprise that this incident brought thoughts of the Lord Jesus Christ to Charles’ mind? Jesus came to be where we needed Him to be; and He died and rose again to be the Savior of sinners—the ultimate refuge! He alone is able to save you and me from Satan’s power, and from our doom, when we come to Him in faith.
However, the Lord Jesus had to do a great work to be your great Savior and mine. Since Adam’s sin, and because of it, the whole human race has lived in the fear of death—and has suffered the effects and power of sin and Satan. Only the sinless Savior could deliver us—by His death on the cross, where He proclaimed “It is finished!” before He died.
Has Jesus not proved Himself to be the absolute lover of your soul? Could He have done more? And now He lives to receive you. Have you claimed for yourself the benefit of His death and resurrection? Have you gone to Him for refuge from the destroyer of souls and from the certain coming judgment which your sins deserve?
The Apostle Paul (sometimes called “Saint Paul”) wrote: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15. He also wrote: “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because He hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18
Himself He could not save,
Love's stream too deeply flowed;
In love Himself He gave
To pay the debt we owed
The blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Flee from the wrath to come! Luke 3:7