Called, Loved, Kept

I had the privilege of attending the Resolved Conference once again this year (resolved.org). As I sat and thought about the weekend, and what really impacted my personal growth the most, two thoughts continued to swarm in my mind...

(1) Because of His love He called me before the foundation of time
(2) He will be faithful to keep me until He brings me home in glory

No matter how many times I have studied the doctrines of grace, or how much I can attest to believing in them, I needed this reminder, and often do. The tendency my pride has to usurp the glory of God and to question His faithfulness is quite frightening. Although I KNOW He is the one who called me from before the foundation of time, do I always behave that way? The answer sadly is no. So often I look to myself for personal holiness and think that I can somehow merit more of His love and favor with more of a righteous and obedient life. Now although holiness and obedience are fruits of salvation, they are only by the grace of God through the sanctifying power of the Spirit within us. God's love for us was not, is not, and never will be conditional; based on some obedience we do or do not possess. That is a powerful Truth to lay hold of. To see and know and live reminded of your calling as a child of God is life changing, humbling, awe-inspiring. The holy God of the universe, from BEFORE time even existed, chose me. Not because I was some super amazingly spiritual individual, not because He saw that one day I would choose Him...no, He chose me simply because He chose to love me. Why me? I have no idea, but the reality of this calling leaves me speechless. The weight of this calling leaves me transformed. The power of this calling leaves me purposed to live for Him. You see the Christian brings nothing to their salvation apart from the sin that was nailed to Christ on the cross as His blood was shed for you and for me. How can we not cast our crowns and rejoice.

Back to the "KNOWING" of these Truths versus the actual living them out: you see, the moment I take my eyes off the cross and start looking at myself I am discouraged. Why? Because wretched I am. Apart from the redeemed nature within me, I am still encased in a fleshly body that has yet to be fully glorified, therefore I still sin, and that is heartbreaking. Untrue thoughts of why would God love me if I keep sinning at times flood my heart and mind. But the reality goes back to the cross, it has NOTHING to do with me. Just as He is the one who did the calling, He is the one who has promised to do the keeping until the end. That means that from before the foundation of time, my name was written, and it will never be removed. The hand that plucked me from the pit of hell is the same hand that will guide me in this life and never let me go. He is the one who will call me into glory and perfect me on that Day. The One who called is the one who will keep me, there is nothing to fear because it is not dependent upon me! Praise God for that Truth.

The more I think about it, the more I am amazed. If you are a child of God you should be too. My prayer is that we, as His beloved, would never become numb to these radical Truths but rather that they would transform our worship, our living...all of us. How could I not fall face down in worship realizing that He called ME...a wretched, vile, worm of a sinner, simply because He loved me, and that no matter what He will keep me forever. All I can say is "thank you, Jesus".