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The little sparrow was the cheapest living food sold in the marketplace. You could buy two sparrows for a penny or splurge a bit and get five for two pennies (Luke 12:6), with the penny being the smallest copper coin of the day.

Sparrows have drab feathers and are described as 'dull-colored' birds that were sold as inexpensive food for the poor. In many places in the Bible, they are used as a symbol of minimal value, as they were overlooked and unwanted by most. They are the feathered nobodies of the Bible found in the bargain bin at the market.

In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus encouraged the Apostles as He sent them out, telling them, "Do not be afraid, Do not be afraid, Do not be afraid" (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31). Then He told them about the little sparrow:

(Matthew 10:29 AMP) Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave (consent) and notice.

I went through this word by word in Greek, and it means exactly what it says: Not even a tiny sparrow dies without the Father's consent. That boggles the religious mind, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV).

Because the word "perish" there does not mean what we usually think it means. To perish is to be destroyed, ruined, or lost. Yet, God loses no one - not even a sparrow. The physical death that we fear is insignificant in the light of eternity. Death is merely a transition or a graduation from school to a higher realm. Everything you see in the physical realm is temporary. The Apostle Paul said it this way:

(2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NKJV) So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

For a Christian, to be in the body is to be absent from the Lord, but when out of the body, we are with Him. The Apostle Paul looked forward to being with Him.

Jesus encouraged the Apostles by telling them about the sparrow. Even though they would face many hardships, even the hairs of their heads were numbered, and not one of them would be lost without the Father's consent. I tell you this now, for there will be fearful times ahead.

(Matthew 10:30–31 AMP) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows.

God takes full responsibility for a life completely surrendered to Him, and no one can snatch you out of His hand (John 10:29). God sees the eternal picture, while we tend to see what is around us using our physical senses. In God's eyes, having treasure in heaven and a reward or promotion that will last for eternity far outweighs a little comfort for us right now in the present.

(Hebrews 11:35–37 NKJV) ...Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented...

God 'allowed' His saints to suffer through these trials so that they might obtain a "better resurrection." Nothing happens without God's permission. In the Book of Job, chapter 1, a day came when it was time for the angels, "Sons of God," to present themselves to the Lord, and satan came along with the others.

The Lord and satan had a discussion which turned to Job, a blameless and upright man. Then satan accused Job of serving God only because He had put a hedge of protection about him. So, to prove that Job was a righteous man, the Lord removed Job's hedge but told satan not to lay a hand on his body:=

(Job 1:12 NKJV) And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Job was wiped out financially, and his family was destroyed, though not his wife, as apparently they were considered one flesh. The tests failed to break Job, and he sat down and said naked, I came into this world, and naked, I will leave it. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. So satan returned to the Lord to ask for more access to Job:

(Job 2:5–6 NKJV) But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life."

Again, satan was limited to what he could do to Job and was not allowed to kill him. When you examine what is happening, you find that satan is merely a tool to test and reveal what is inside a person. To sift you as wheat like Peter, but completely limited by what God permits. Even with Peter, satan had to ask first:

(Luke 22:31–32 NKJV) And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

There is nothing to fear in this life but God. He is the loving, undefeatable, and awesome righteous Judge. The buck stops here. He makes no excuses. He tells no lies. No one can snatch you out of His hand, and not even satan can lay a finger on you without the Lord's permission. A sparrow does not fall to the ground without His consent, and neither will you.

We are already living in eternity but are merely in school and haven't graduated yet. There is so much more to come, to experience and see in the eternity unfolding ahead of us. It's an exciting time to be alive!

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I love You, and thank You so much for taking care of little me! Please fulfill Your perfect will in my life and help me get in tune with what You are doing on Earth today. Make my part in this school of life clear to me and help me find my destiny. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!