One thing has emerged very strongly for me as I have read through the letters we have covered in this edition of Thrive. It is the weight of our choices and how much is determined by them. The writer of Hebrews warns believers of the eternal consequences of abandoning the faith. Peter tells us to make our calling and election sure. John talks also of the possibility of Christians rejecting the truth and the hopelessness of this situation. And Jude, in his closing remarks pleads with believers to keep themselves in God’s love. You might well be thinking: “But doesn’t our eternal fate ultimately depend on God?” Yes, it does. God is indeed sovereign but paradoxically his sovereignty does not undermine the significance of human choice. We are not saved no matter what. We will be saved in the end if we persevere in the faith. This is clear from all that we have read in these epistles. And yet I believe that it is only by God’s grace and by his upholding hand that we will persevere to the end. He is the one who keeps us from stumbling (see vs. 24). But, notwithstanding this, we must take the biblical warnings and exhortations at face value. Let us make every effort to remain in God’s love. This doesn’t mean that we must earn his love, but that we must keep in touch with his love and not turn our backs on him. Keep watch over yourself and be vigilant in seeking God always. Don’t live to survive. Live to THRIVE.
Ask God to do whatever it takes to turn you back should you stray from him.
Read Jude verses 17-25
