"Young Woman"

"Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices." (S.O.S. 8:14) NLT

  "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10-11)  

  So, I guess you might have figured out by now that there is nothing we can possibly do to pry God's hand from holding unto our lives! Will it be His glory that is displayed when this is all said and done? You can bet your life on it! He is faithful to complete everything that He starts; He leaves nothing undone; there is nothing He does that is not already written into His plans and purposes. Does that mean we are free to do what we want? Not in the least! We do not know our outcome or the condition of our heart; but He does! 

  During the night, a long night at that, I heard this voice calling out, saying: "Make your calling and election sure!" At first I did not know what to think of it, as I thought it might have been warning me to stop dreaming about stupid dreams, and maybe it was; but then I realized the verse I was going to be sharing on this morning and the famous last verses from Solomon's, anonymous writing, Ecclesiastes. In these two closing verses, the Writer, "the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem," he writes: "Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." 

  In the case of our calling and election, both are the act of God upon our lives: He calls us to Himself, because He loves us all, every single soul that is born into this world has a place in His heart; and every single one, one way or another, gets a chance to answer His call. The election is also His, as He has chosen each and every one of His children; which just so happens to be those that have accepted His call upon their lives. It is so, because it happens; but it happens just as He knew that it would! The thing that makes it so mysterious and exciting, is the fact that we are unaware of who we are, until we have become the chosen ones; then it is no more a mystery, but instead, it becomes more and more exciting! 

  These are the things we must live with and hold sacred within our heart! Does that make us perfect? If you think you cannot sin, then no, you're far from being perfect! But if you know that you should not sin, your chances of being perfect have become reasonably possible. If you are aware of your sin and receive God's gift of forgiveness, you're assured of being perfect, without a doubt! How do I know this, and what proof is there that it is so? Because the Bible tells me so!!!

  The biggest problem we have as a Believer, is to stop believing that God keeps His promises! Not that we can prevent ourselves from doubting, because everyone doubts at one time or another; and some seemingly doubt all the time. The real question then becomes about what your doubt is in, yourself or God! If you know that you're chosen by God, then when you doubt if God has really chosen you, who are you hurting in the process of your doubt? 

  I hope and pray that this becomes apparently real in the lives of all those that believe, because it is real! You can hold unto faith, just as easy as your ability to hold onto your favorite sin, if you will...

"Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen." (Romans 16:25-27) NLT