Sealed

Some words are used soo often and with such familiarity that we become somewhat cavalier regarding their meaning .
Have you thought of the word ‘sealed’ recently?

I looked it up in an online dictionary and was struck with the strength of the word.
The given definitions used word phrases such as -- Established or determined irrevocably, incapable of being retracted or revoked, closed or secured , to close tightly or surround with a barricade.
That gives ‘sealed’ a pretty solid ring of permanency and authority.

The word – sealed- is a biblical word and I love the law of first usage in scripture to give us the intended understanding of the word.

We have the word first used in the story of Cain.

Cain was a young man who would be a case in point against all the modern psychology that lays blame for a young man going wrong, at the feet of his parents and social environment.
Cain had no such excuses.
He had parents who learned parenting directly from God, there was no bad crowd to fall in with, no temptations of worldly interests or amusement places, no drugs to craze his mind.
He lived in as sterile a world as ever anyone has.
Yet as a grown man, he went wrong . Sin lurked in his heart waiting for expression and when his ‘unworthy’ offering to God was not accepted and his brother Abel’s was, he turned in rage toward his brother and killed him.

Sin must be punished. God sentenced Cain to be cursed from the earth to be a fugitive banned from the face of God.
It is interesting that Cain’s immediate response was fear of the very thing he himself was guilty of --- murder.
God responded to his fear that someone would find him with murderous intent by setting a mark (or seal) on him that would prevent anyone from killing him. We are not told what this mark said. Perhaps “under God’s protection” ? Whatever it was , it was powerful enough to ensure Cain’s life.

I was thinking of this the other day, and scriptures came to mind like 2 Co 1:22 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

If we belong to Jesus, we are SEALED. But what does this mean, practically speaking?

In Cain’s situation it meant that no enemy could take his life. There is another verse in Ez. 9:6 that also speaks of a seal protecting from judgement and death. In Rev. 7:3 again we are told that harm will not come to those who are sealed by God.

Holding true to the scriptural meaning given, having God’s seal means that we can walk among the enemy without fear. Satan cannot touch us, harm cannot overtake us -- we are safe ! This is no ordinary seal placed upon us … it is the seal of God. Need we fear it will not recognized or respected? I think not.

We can walk through our days without fear of what the enemy may do. He can only lurk on the sidelines trying to taunt or confuse us with his lies…but we , marked by the seal of God, have the freedom to simply ignore him.

Next time you are afraid … think on this … You are sealed by the God of the Universe!! You are safe!
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