Sign, Sealed & Delivered!
“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” - 2 Corinthians 1:22 (KJV)
I really appreciate a good sound. My definition of a good sound is music which moves you with a message to snap your fingers and move your feet. If you were around during the decades of the 1960's and 1970's, you might remember the soulful sounds of Motown music. The song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" is a soulful single by Stevie Wonder that was released in June 1970. Wonder's song was indeed a wonderful hit as it spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R & B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart. In the same year, the song was also released on the album titled “Signed, Sealed & Delivered.” As you might expect from the song title, the dominant lyrics in the chorus are “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours!” But further listening reveals that there was another part of the lyrics that spoke volumes with respect to the message of surrendership, commitment and our eternal future. Four different times throughout the song, Wonder sings “You got my future in your hands.” I wonder if Wonder understood the gravity of such a statement.
For all of us that have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal Savior our relationship with Him and the reward of heaven is indeed signed, sealed and delivered by the Holy Spirit. Our future is in His hands. Hallelujah! This truth is illustrated in this week’s text where the Apostle Paul points to the fact that our faithful Father God has sealed us with His Spirit which secures a guarantee that we are Hisforever!
In biblical times a seal, with an insignia, was used to identify and to protect. If something was sealed, everyone was completely cognizant to whom it belonged. The seal also prevented anyone else from tampering with the item. By comparing the Holy Spirit to a seal, Paul is making the statement that He is in us and upon us to identify us and to protect us. Once a soul has trusted Christ, that soul is sealed and secure in Him. This truth is echoed in the following Scriptures:
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1:13–14 (KJV)
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” - Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
“Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.” Luke 6:23 (KJV)
This truth should bring us great comfort knowing that we are sealed with an eternal promise of salvation by the Holy Spirit Himself. So can you put your hands together and sing: “Here I am, Jesus! Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m Yours! You got my future Your hands!”
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR