21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
In this verse is one very small, very important game changer of a word - did you see it? It is a very small word that has power to completely undo us. It is that little word ‘If”. From verse 21-22 Paul has been speaking about how God has (past tense) reconciled us to Himself through Jesus shed blood - but it all balances on that one little word - ‘if’. It all depends on IF we continue in the faith, not shifting from the hope of the gospel. In other words we don’t just hear the gospel one day and respond and get saved, but we cling to the gospel day after day after day. Clinging to it as a rock amid a tumultuous sea. Clinging onto it for dear life - literally. It is at the same time a rock of comfort and safety, but a rock of terror and fear.
Comfort knowing that on it we are safe, terrifying that we might fall off the rock. So we cling to it - not allowing ourselves to shift from it. This gospel rock is so precious, it is our only hope every single day. Those who have been truly saved will one day be revealed. The light of judgment will reveal it and there will be great surprise. Many we thought were not saved will be. Many we thought were saved will not be. The question is - are you saved? Who is saved? At least one part to that answer is found by looking at who is clinging to the gospel? Who is clinging to the cross? Who is glorying in the gospel? Who is finding all their joy in the gospel - who is reveling in it and worshipping God for it?
There are those who take it for granted. They said a prayer a number of years ago. They go to church, they even got baptized, so they don’t worry anymore. They say - “God is forgiving and Jesus has died for my sin, I’m not so bad any more - I already put my trust in Him and got that out the way - I live a reasonably squeeky clean life - job done!” But those who truly know and rely on God’s grace tremble. There is the fear of God that drives them again and again to the gospel, to the cross singing in their heart the old prayer ... “Rock of ages, cleft to me, let me hid myself in Thee”. Do you daily glory in the gospel? Does the fear of the Lord cause you to tremble? Have you considered how dreadful a thing it is if your ‘salvation’ is not real? Or are you daily throwing yourself upon the rock, repenting, drinking in free forgiveness, full of praise, joy and thankfulness that He is your Savior and He is keeping you close to Him.
Take some time now to reflect on your daily walk. What does it tell you about where you are at with Him? Do you have cause for concern? If so, come to Him now and ask Him to give you a heart that loves and values Him and the salvation He gives above all else. Ask the Lord to make Himself the treasure of your heart and keep asking Him until He has answered - and answer He certainly will. (Luke 11:11-13)
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