Persevering or Falling Away?

Persevering, or Falling Away?

Scripture:
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:

‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Devotional:

Even though it can be hard we must keep our faith.  Even though those around us don’t we must persevere and stay strong in our faith.   We can be like the church in Philadelphia or we can be like the unfaithful so called Jews.  

What does your faith look like?  Have you stood in front of the mirror and examined yourself lately?  What is it that you see when you look at your inner self?  There are times when I think I got it right.  My faith seems strong and unwavering.  I feel that I am on top of the world.  Then there are times when I feel unconnected with God.  Times that God feels far away.  The truth is that God hasn’t moved.  He is still right there.  We are the ones who have drifted.  Maybe we have unconfessed sin in our lives.  It could be that we become complacent and self-secure in ourselves.  There are many reasons we might feel disconnected from God.  Regardless of the reason God is there waiting for us to turn around.  He never leaves or fails us.  We can persevere and rekindle our faith.  

Don’t live a life of lies.  Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you are good enough, or that because of how you live your life you will be saved.  The scriptures are clear there is only one way to eternal life in Heaven. It is through Jesus, Romans 3:23-24 (NASB), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”  John 14:6 (NASB), “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  It is clear Jesus is the only way to heaven.  Any other way is just deception.  You can be life the so called Jews who are living a lie.  The other option is to persevere and live your life in Christ.  The truth shall set you free.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Only through Him can we be made righteous and through Him no one can overcome us.  Is your name in the book of life?