Christ has said, “Without me ye can do nothing.” The resolutions you may make in your own finite strength, will be only as ropes of sand; but if you pray in sincerity, surrendering yourself, soul, body, and spirit, unto God, you put on the whole armor of God, and open the soul to the righteousness of Christ; and this alone,—Christ’s imputed righteousness,—makes you able to stand against the wiles of the devil. The work of every soul is to resist the enemy in the power and might of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise is that the devil shall flee from us. But let all realize that they are in peril, and there is no assurance of safety except as they comply with the conditions of the text. The Lord says, “Draw nigh to God.” How?—By secret, earnest examination of your own heart; by childlike, heart-felt, humble dependence upon God, making known your weakness to Jesus; and by confessing your sins. Thus you may draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. White, Youth Instruction, February 8, 1894, par. 4
A rope is used in the Bible to illustrate many things. It refers to strength in Ecclesiastes 4:12- “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”
Ropes can be used as an emblem of servitude in 1 Kings 20:31- “His officials said to him, ‘Look, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life’.”
Ropes can illustrate love in Hosea 11:4-“I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”
Also, ropes can represent affliction in Job 36:8- “But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,” and as temptation in Psalm 140:5- “The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.”
as well as Proverbs 5:22- “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.”
I usually find ropes in various uses in connection with the fishing industry. Ropes are great photograph subjects due to their versatility, flexibility and their ability to be tied into various knots. Ropes can be seen along with chains.
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