The Label Gun

         We often like to label things in our file systems. You can have all different colored tabs to place on files in order that you can find something quicker. That was the time when you used paper files instead of computer files. I also recall the time when my Father got his first label gun. Ink labeling gave way to colored plastic strips on almost everything that could be moved. He put his name on his camera, his tool box, his CB radio. We had black labels, yellow labels, red labels and blue labels stuck almost everywhere. Naturally, when I came to the point where I had my own possessions, I got a label gun with more different colors and began to label everything in my house. Psalm 147:4 says, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.” God, in some sense, also labels things since He has named all of the stars. God also had a label for each of us as the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 43:1 “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.”

         God said this in reference to Jacob but the truth extends to us in that He knows each and every one of us as is mentioned in Psalm 139. God knows you and He knows me and in some way we are labeled as God's property. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus and reminded them of being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are God's possession and if God used a label gun we would have that written somewhere on our body but He didn't use a label gun but instead, sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are further reminded of this truth by the words of Paul to the church at Corinth, when we mentioned that we have been purchased with the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and we are not our own anymore. We are under the possession of God Himself. More than likely, we don't measure up to someone's standards in this world but that doesn't matter because we are God's possession and He always takes care of of every need that we have. We often mention that every day is one day closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the closer we get to that time, the more problems we are going to see in the world in which we live. Paul also reminded young Timothy of that in the second epistles in the third chapter. In the last days, perilous times will come. In the next verse it says, “for.” Paul gives us the reason and in all stems from the meaning of that little word, “for.” It describes the condition of man's heart in regard to his fellow man and to God and it is not a pretty picture. In the last days, man will be a lover of himself more than God. He will look religious but in reality, he hates God and everything that God stands for. As you hear the news today you can, or should be able to see the condition of the world today even in our own prestigious country. As we look at the conditions today, they don't seem to offer much hope for things like they were in the “good old days.” Things are changing fast and we can be mighty thankful that God has labeled us as belonging to Him. If for some unusual circumstance you don't know that for sure in your life today, it is of the utmost importance that you get it settled beyond a shadow of a doubt. Ask the question that the Philippian jailer asked of Paul and Silas. “What must I do to be saved?” The answer is found in Acts 16:31 and says basically, “...believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” God may not be using a label gun but He has you marked if you know Him. Praise God that He knows who you are and where you are going.