CHAPTER 13
ETERNAL SAFETY
Years ago an old man told us his story. When he was young, God had blessed him, and for a time he was very happy. Then, as the days passed, his feelings became dark. He could no longer feel God's blessing. He thought that God had left him, and that he was cast away for ever. Having no one to talk to, and not knowing a good minister, he was completely miserable, thinking he was lost.
One day he sat in church. Sadly he picked up a prayer book (it was Church of England) and without thinking began to turn over its pages. Suddenly, to his amazement, he found he was reading the Thirty-nine Articles and there, for the first time, he read that God never casts away those He has blessed. He has chosen them, predestinated them, Jesus has died for them—so they can never, never be lost. That young man left the church as happy as anyone in England.
Very clearly does the Bible teach this truth—that God's people can never perish. Sometimes they are cast down. Sometimes they are sad. Sometimes they are tempted, and fall. Sometimes they feel God has left them. Continually Satan opposes them. But, really, they are safe for ever.
I remember well when one of my little boys went on the train for the first time. Soon after the train had left the station it went over the points. There was a lot of rattling and banging and the little boy in alarm cried, 'We've come off the lines!' But his elder brother had travelled by train before and he quickly assured him, 'No, the train doesn't come off the lines!' So many young Christians, when difficulties and troubles come, think that God has left them, but older ones realize the blessed truth: 'Once in Him, in Him for ever.'
Of course, this should not surprise us. Would a shepherd be happy if one of his sheep were missing? Would a king be happy with one of the jewels missing from his crown? And how can God lose those He has loved and chosen? How can Jesus lose those He has bought at such a cost? How can the Holy Spirit lose those in whose hearts He dwells?
Some have spoken of the three P's:
The promise. The Lord has promised that His people shall never be cast away, or left to sink into hell at last: 'I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand' (John 10: 28).
The prayer. The Lord Jesus, before He died, prayed for all His people: that they might be kept and at last go to heaven: 'Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory' (John 17: 24). That prayer must be answered.
The power. We are 'kept by the power of God' (1 Peter 1: 5). The word 'kept' really means 'garrisoned', surrounded by a strong garrison of soldiers. That garrison is the same power that made the world.
The truth that believers can never be lost is a very beautiful one to young persons who belong to Christ. They know how weak they are and how strong Satan is. They realize they may have many years still to live. They feel how severe the fight. But they know that there is safety in Christ. What a miracle that Jesus has never yet lost one, and never will! Young people live in a changing world; everything seems unsure, and often they may feel unsure themselves: but here is something that is certain— every one of God's people will get to heaven.
There are two questions which sometimes puzzle a young person:
' What about those who seem to be good Christians, and then give it all up?'
The Bible is very clear on this. There are several who seemed to be God's people who perished, e.g. Saul, Ahithophel, Judas Iscariot, Simon Magus, etc. But none of these ever were really the people of God.
But what a solemn warning lest we should only seem to be real Christians, and at last prove we were not!
'Does not the belief "once a child of God always a child of God" lead God''s people to live just how they wish and sin as they wish?'
1. no! The grace that saves them sanctifies them. The Bible speaks of the lion being changed to the lamb. Among other things there is a change of appetite. You could put a lamb amid a lot of chickens, and it would not eat them all up (as the lion would)!
We remember reading of the young Christian girl who was told by those who used to be her friends that she could no longer do what she wanted. 'Yes, I can,' she said, T do what I want.'
'Well, why don't you go dancing, to the cinema?' and a host of other things.
Simply she answered, 'I do not want?
2. But if it should be that a child of God does wrong, then God chastises. He makes the person feel sorry and
repent—sometimes by His Word; sometimes through trouble.You have all heard of King David doing wrong—but he did not carry on like that. God made him very, very sorry, and forgave him. A good father does not throw his child out of the house when he does something wrong.
3. The Bible warns about those who do not 'endure to the end'. The proof that we really are God's people is that we do endure.
The well-known John Newton, one time a sea captain, once told of a remarkable dream he had. In his dream he was in Naples harbour when a most glorious person came on board the ship and gave him a precious and beautiful jewel. Thanking him, and taking it from him, John Newton thought there could be no one more happy.
But soon another person came on the deck and began to mock him, saying the jewel was no good, and urging him to throw it away. After a time Newton began to believe him and, taking the jewel, flung it into the sea. Immediately, he was filled with horror. The sky grew dark and the nearby volcano began to erupt. 'Oh! what have I done?' he cried.
After a time the first glorious person came to him again, and asked him about the jewel he had kindly given him. With shame John Newton confessed he had thrown it away. What would happen now? But in his dream he saw the glorious person go over the side of the ship, right down beneath the water, and after a time return with the jewel.
As he came back on the deck, Newton says, T held out my hand for it, but he refused. "No," he said, "the jewel is yours; it always will be yours; but I will keep it for you!"'
Suggested Bible readings
John 10.
John 17.
Romans 8: 28-39.
Philippians 1: 1-6.
1 Peter 1: 1-5.