Someone is telling you a story, probably involving their opinion or something they expect from you, and about the time they seem finished, they add this:
On the other hand.
Once you hear those words, you know the story isn’t finished by a long shot. You’re halfway there, because the teller has a whole new set of facts and opinions to bleed all over you.
Here’s an example:
“I’m going to give you this car to drive while you are looking for a job. On the other hand . . .”
Clearly, there’s something expected of you if you choose to accept their offer.
What’s the “on the other hand” we must expect when we come to salvation in Christ?
Yes, we have one. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t an open-ended cornucopia that pours gifts and blessings on us, and all we do is open our hands and enjoy.
We can read God’s “on the other hand” in Psalm 97:10:
“O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.”
Let’s restate the first part of this verse for illustrative purposes.
“I want you to love me, my children, says the Lord, but on the other hand, you must hate all evil.”
Here’s what we must take away from this. When we come to Christ, and we claim salvation through the blood of his sacrifice, we must turn away from the bad things we once thought acceptable.
That website . . . we choose to click away.
Those party-loving friends . . . just say no.
Getting even for past hurts . . . don’t even go there.
We must hold up our end of our salvation agreement. We get to express our love for Jesus, but we must separate ourselves from the bad that so often tries to consume the world. Then we will receive the promise we read at the end of this verse.
God will watch over us and protect us from those who would cause us harm.
We must live for Christ all in. There’s no other way to be a Christian.
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