God, Tattoos & You

While running errands recently I saw someone do something that I rarely see, given that we live in what some might call "the cellular age." With Blackberrys and iPhones abounding I was suprised to hear a young lady asked someone if she could borrow a pen. Once given the pen she began recording information that they were giving to her on the palm of her hand.

Back in the stone age day this was the quickest way of retaining important data. We tattooed ourselves with Bic pens long before tattoos were cool. However, it's been a long time since I've seen anyone write someone's name and or phone number in the palm of their hand.

Later that night as I was worrying resting the scene replayed in my mind. How odd, I thought initially, until the Holy Spirit brought to mind a very powerful Scripture.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;Your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49:15-16 NASB

[And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:15-16 Amplified Bible

What a beautiful promise, spoken to Israel, during a period of Babylonian captivity. Their own rebellion had brought them to the place they were in and they felt abandoned by God. Sin rebellion has a tendency to do that because it separated us from Him. Yet it is not the only reason that we, at times, feel alone, forsaken, and abandoned in this world.

In those times, no matter what the situation, it is important to REMEMBER that God's promise for Israel holds true for us as well. Though it may seem that all have forgotten about us and that our life lies in ruins all around us--He never does. We are "indelibly imprinted" on the palm of His hands. Apparently God has tattoos!

How wonderful to find security in knowing that the One who created us will never leave us. He knows exactly where we are in our life. He also knows where we have been and where we are going. In short, you are always on His mind and forever in His hands.

Artwork by Justin Ulmer~Seven Apples Christian Art
http://www.sevenapples.net/