“Whatever Happens”
During his courtship with a young woman named Julia Dent, Ulysses S. Grant once took her out for a buggy ride. Coming to a flooded creek spanned by a flimsy bridge, Grant assured Julia that it was safe to cross. “Don’t be frightened,” he said. “I’ll look after you.”
“Well,” replied Julia, “I shall cling to you whatever happens.” True to her word, she clung tightly to Grant’s arm as they drove safely across.
Grant drove on in thoughtful silence for a few minutes, then cleared his throat and said, “Julia, you said back there that you would cling to me whatever happened. Would you like to cling to me for the rest of our lives?” She would, and they were married in August 1848. *
Wikipedia provides the following summary of the marriage Ulysses and Julia Grant: “The Grants’ marriage was often tried by adversity and it met every test, as the couple gave each other lifelong loyalty.”
In Genesis 2:24, we find God’s design for marriage: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united [“cling”] to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
It is the “clinging together” in loving commitment that will enable a married couple to endure the challenges that life brings and enjoy life together.
And it is “clinging to Christ” that will enable a person to navigate through this life and have the hope of eternal life.
Life has its challenges but sin is our greatest enemy, for it separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) and condemns us (Romans 6:23).
But God loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23).
God will save those who “cling” to Jesus by placing their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Jesus will continue to wash away the sins of those who continue to “cling” to Him faithfully (1 John 1:7).
“I shall cling to you whatever happens.” That mindset is crucial for a great marriage. It also describes how we should respond to the Savior.
Whatever happens, won’t YOU cling to Jesus in trusting obedience?
David A. Sargent