WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 30 of 37

ONLY THE BELIEVER IS SECURE

In discussing the jeopardy of life in "this present evil world," we dare not leave the impression that the one who is trusting in the Lord is insecure, or that his faith may not be recognized by the Lord. The God who saved because we believed the record He gave of His Son (1 John 5:10-11), will not keep us through that same faith (1 Pet 1:5). While we ARE laboring to enter into rest (Heb 4:11), we are NOT laboring to gain Divine acceptance. We are presently "accepted in the Beloved" (Eph 1:6), and have no reason to doubt that acceptance.

I have endeavored to show in this series that God does not take our faith for granted, and neither can we. What we have from God, we have by faith. We are not in heaven yet. Our job is to keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7), "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12), and "stand fast in the faith" (1 Cor 16:13). Rather than assuming we have the faith, we are to examine ourselves "to see whether we be in the faith" (2 Cor 13:5). We are not in heaven yet.

In these sanctified activities, we do not drift in and out of salvation, shifting between a state of condemnation and justification. I realize that some believe and teach this, but they are in serious error. Many a struggling believer goes to bed at night wondering if they have done something that has caused them to be cut off from God. Such a perspective is not gained from the Word of God. It is more related to unbelief than to faith. While it is true that we are not locked into salvation, we are not locked out either. This is the time of testing and proving–the time when the genuineness of our faith is being confirmed. As it is written, "These [trials] have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Pet 1:7, NIV). Believers are admonished, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Heb 3:12). You do not want to adopt a theology that makes that warning irrelevant. Your faith is not to be taken for granted, it is currently being "proved genuine."

Having said all of this, we must turn our attention to the trusting ones–the individuals who are believing on the Son, and depending on Him to bring them to God and glory (1 Pet 3:18; Heb 2:10). Remember, a believer is not someone who has believed sometime in the past, but who is presently believing. God speaks words of remarkable comfort to all such people. This brings us to our present consideration: "Only the believer is secure."

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE CONFOUNDED. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious . . . " (1 Pet 2:6-7a)

Jesus Christ has been firmly put in place by God the Father as the unwavering Foundation of salvation. He has been ordained in that capacity, which means everything truly founded upon Him will flourish in the eyes and by the power of God. As Isaiah said it, "And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand" (Isa 53:10). The person who "believes on Him" takes that word as absolute truth, and puts the entirety of life into the hand the Savior. The believer does this expectantly, and persuaded it is right. In the process of believing, God confirms to the trusting soul, by experience and understanding, that what He has said about His Son is absolute truth. In that confirmation, Jesus becomes "precious" to the believer–the one who has leaned the weight of his whole being upon Jesus. For "he that believeth on Him," everything depends upon Christ. He is trusted in living and in dying, in poverty and in plenty, in blessing and in trial.

What does it mean to be "NOT CONFOUNDED?" Because this is an affirmation of Deity, the believer wants to know more of this remarkable promise. Other versions say "will by no means be put to shame" (NKJV), "shall not be disappointed" (NASB), "will never be put to shame" (NIV), and "no one who relies on this will be brought to disgrace" (NLT). The word translated "confounded" means "made to blush in shame, or dishonored." It means, because of the failure of what was trusted, the disappointed one is embarrassed. His trust proved to be only a delusion. Those who have trusted in men and the things of this world know all too well what it means to be disappointed, confounded, put to shame, and brought into disgrace. People have squandered their life savings on promising ventures, only to be brought to disgrace. Many have entered into holy matrimony with high expectations, only to be confounded when their hopes were dashed upon the rocks of delusion and misrepresentation.

But the Holy Spirit affirms this will NOT happen to the person who believes. No person who trusts in Christ will fail to be blessed by Jesus and honored by God the Father. Jesus promised, and it is true, "If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (John 12:26). He said the one believing would "not perish" (John 3:16). He promised they would "never thirst," or be found where life-sustaining water for the soul would not be found (John 6:35). He declared the believer has "everlasting life" (John 6:47), and will not come into condemnation" (John 5:24). With comforting power, Jesus said the believer would become a source of life and benefit, because "out of his belly will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). A believer, Jesus said, will "not abide in darkness," groping about in life or left without moorings for the soul (John 12:46). Through the Apostles, the Spirit declares the one believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:5), and has a witness in himself (1 John 5:10). The one believing that "Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1) and has "life through His name" (John 20:31).

Should there be a solitary soul throughout all of time who believes, yet finds these commitments untrue, then we shall have found a believer who is ashamed. Should the most lowly soul put his trust in Jesus and find God does not receive and honor him, then he who believes will have been confounded. If it is possible to live by faith and remain thirsty, unsatisfied, and forlorn, then he that believes will be put to disgrace. If, while I am believing, I grope in darkness, with confusion of face and without chart or compass for the soul, then he that believes shall have been dishonored. If any of these are prove true, God's word will fall to the ground.

But this cannot happen! To the one who believes, Jesus is "precious," because of the absence of shame, disgrace, and embarrassment. Jesus honors faith. God honors faith. The Spirit honors faith. All of heaven throws its power behind the believer, sustaining, refreshing, lifting, and empowering the one who dares to trust in the arm of the Lord. In fact, God is looking for such an individual. His eyes run rapidly throughout the whole world, "to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him" (2 Chron 16:9).

But no such promises are given to those who are NOT trusting the Lord–NOW! Only the one who IS believing receives these marvelous commitments. The Spirit has spoken carefully and pointedly in order that believers might know they are secure. But He has made no commitments of security to those who are on beds of ease, coasting along through life with their minds nailed to the earth like Sisera's head. Believers, and only believers, are promised they will never be ashamed or confounded. Dear reader, you have every reason to be strong in faith, giving glory to God. In believing, you will never be confounded, disappointed, or put to shame.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I hang the weight of my whole being upon Your word. I believe, help Thou mine unbelief!

-- Tomorrow: PROFESSION VERSUS POSSESSION --