“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with the things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” — Hebrews 13:5
The well known fictional character, Peter Pan is over 100 years old. He first appeared in a 1902 novel titled “The Little White Bird.” Peter Pan enjoyed a rich history in the theatre starting in 1904 when it first appeared in a London play. Two years later it played on Broadway and in 1954 it became a musical and it continues even to this day. The characters in this child’s fantasy are unforgettable, of course. There were the Darlings and their children, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell and who can forget Captain Hook? What adventure flying through the air.
The book opens with these words, “All children grow up — except one. Maybe that one is you. Peter Pan taps the child in all of us. One of the songs in the musical version, speaking of the destination of Peter Pan’s home in Never Never Land, had some interesting lyrics :
I have a place where dreams are born, And time is never planned. It’s not on any chart, You must find it with your heart, Never Never Land. It might be miles beyond the moon, Or right there where you stand Just keep an open mind, And then suddenly you’ll find, Never Never Land. This could be a description of heaven in a metaphorical sense but no one who reads this fictional work really knows where it is – because it’s an illusion.
God’s word, however, can help us find the real Never, Never Land. The Lord says, “I will never leave you. . . “ The word translated “never” is actually two words in the Greek, both of which are negatives. Literally, it is translated as “not, not.” God intensifies his promise to us by saying, “I will never, never cease to uphold or sustain you.” That’s why we can be content with what we have and cease striving for more because he has promised to do whatever it takes to keep us going — whatever our material, physical, emotional or spiritual needs may be.
The next part of the verse is even more dramatic. The Lord says, “I will never . . . forsake you.” The word forsake has an ominous meaning. It implies deserting someone who’s in a state of defeat or helplessness in the midst of hostile circumstances. It’s like running away from someone in need in the midst of a battle. It’s like a soldier leaving his buddies while under fire. It means “to abandon, to leave helpless, or to let someone down.”
Here the word ‘never” actually consists of three words in the original language, all of which are again negatives. Literally, the text says, I will “nor, not, not” abandon you.” This is the only place to my knowledge that a triple negative is ever used in the New Testament. God will never leave us — no matter what the circumstances. We can always know that he will be there — he will never, never, never let us go. Now that’s the Never, Never Land I am looking forward to!
So my friends, always remember that our Lord and Savior Jesus Chirst said , “I will never, I mean never, leave us.” What assurance and comfort. Maranatha!
Pastor Don
