The call to Christianity is one of
endurance, I guess that we all understand that endurance for an athlete is not
just a given, it is worked for; with hours of dedication fixed on a particular practice,
day in and out with months on end of repetition as stamina is drilled into ones
muscle memory preparing the individual and giving them the title, “a person of
endurance”. On the other hand it is obvious that salvation is a gift from God,
it cannot be worked for or earned; “For by grace you have
been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) - And
with both those thoughts infiltrating our mind at the same time we find a paradox that is in conflict. But only if we leave it there and
we do not explore a little deeper. God has equipped the believer with a resolve
to find the “good works” prepare for them to walk in; “For
we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
If misunderstood it is in these areas where
Satan likes to use doubt against babes or those living in rebellion as our
minds are impregnated with thoughts of “free grace” running riot; allowing the deceived
to live a lifestyle in blatant contradiction to Christian practices believing that
the grace of God will cover you. If the understanding of the grace of God is twisted
just a tweak you will end up with a perverted result and there are those who
have been taken by that was of thinking, I too was once amongst that number.
However we will be turned from that type of deception if our conversion was implemented
by God. The Lord Jesus is the great Shepherd; bless His name now and forever
more.
God will get ever “true” born again
believer home, of this I am persuaded; He has initiated a covenant with those
individuals which He will never default on. Desertion belongs to us because we
are naturally sinful but God is perfect in righteousness and therefore it is
impossible for God to lie. The work of Calvary is a finished work, it is done,
it is sealed and the book of life was penned prior to the foundations of the
worlds. A skilled potter will always arrive at their desire result and once the
artefact is complete it will serve its intended purpose, we too need to serve
our purpose as Christians and end up in the position that God has intended.
Life is full of challenges and just like a fruit tree in a garden, it needs tender
loving care; if left to its own devises, its fruit will eventually end up being
marred or full of worms and unpalatable. This is where the Father-son relationship
of God becomes marvellously evident to the one who is living in rebellion. God
disciplines the ones he loves. The child caught up in mutiny will be turned and
repentance will follow; if not then our son ship is questionable. God’s warnings
are very precise and not to be taken lightly, do that at you own peril. “It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrew
10:31)
Let me make it clear that not everyone
who claims to be a Christian will make it to heaven. These were the words of
our great Saviour; “"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but the one
who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we
not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty
works in your name?' And then will I declare to
them, 'I never knew you;
depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” (Matthew
7:20-23) - There will be those we come across that claim
to be Christian but in fact are nothing more than workers of lawlessness (free to
live in sin and call it grace) – here is the teaching; “Thus you will recognize
them by their fruits.”
Heaven
will be filled with righteousness not lawlessness; our life on earth is a
training ground to prepare us for heaven; “Let
the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous
still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold,
I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he
has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their
robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they
may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Revelation 22:11-15)
Lord willing and with that in mind we will travel
with the next post into the book of Revelation and the instruction it has for
the churches; with an intent to examine ourselves in light of the Lord Jesus’
direction, remembering that if the shoe fits we need to act quickly seeking out
the grace of God that is available to His children. Repentance if needed and then
to find endurance to overcome.
Signing off
Tyrone
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