Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV)
Have you ever wondered why you are still a Christian when you wake up every morning? Is it because you choose to be? And if it is, why do you choose to be? Or rather, why do you make the choice to be? Is it because you are smarter than, say, the person who chooses not to be? Have you perfected all the strategies to remaining connected to Christ? Do all your answers to these questions have to do with something you do?
Well, the disturbing matter of the fact is that if we could lose our salvation we would. So, if we choose to be a Christian when we wake up the morning it will be because God keeps us. Or to say it another way: It is because God keeps us that we choose to be a Christian when we wake up in the morning. The apostle Paul said it like this, And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV) Everyone whom God justifies he glorifies. God predestined or determined before hand that no one whom he justifies is dropped by the wayside. If you choose not to be a Christian in the morning you have not yet been justified.
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 121 that the Lord will not slumber or sleep and will not allow the foot of his people to be removed. Removed from what? Removed from being his people. The psalmist went on to write that the Lord is our keeper and that he will keep our lives from all evil. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote, But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV)
Are we never to be affected by evil? Consider the words of Jesus. “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:16-19 ESV) So which is it, Jesus? We might be put to death, or not a hair of our head will perish? Both! God will not let anything we face destroy our souls. There may be times when God rescues from death, but even should he choose not to, he preserves the souls of the saints. If we truly belong to God we will endure because he will keep us (Matthew 10:22).
Consider again the words of Jesus. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 ESV) Those who believe their choice is decisive think themselves stronger than Almighty God. The truth is we could not save ourselves and we cannot keep ourselves. The one who called us is faithful. He will keep us.
Will you endure to the end? How will you get there?
Scriptures for meditation:
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
Philippians 1:6