God Keeps You

All glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

AN OLDER MAN slipped into the seat in the pastor’s office, his face drawn and despondent. The pastor asked immediately, “You look worried. What’s up?”

“I’m so afraid,” the man said. “I’ve been a Christian for years. But I’ve messed my life up so many ways. I went through a divorce that was really my fault. I fight against drinking continually, but sometimes I give in and get drunk. I’m lonely. Sometimes I don’t even know if I have a relationship with the Lord anymore.”

The pastor opened to the above passage and read it. Then he said, “Have you confessed your part in these things? Have you admitted to the Lord you flubbed up, and you want to do better?”

“Yes, but . . .” The old man shook his head. “I’m just afraid I’ll die and get up there and Jesus will simply chew me out for about a thousand years.”

The pastor smiled. “That’s the good news from Jude, my friend. Jesus intends to get you to heaven blameless, without fault, and without falling away. That’s his plan and part of his job description.”

“He would do that for me?”

“Absolutely.”

Have you ever felt that way? Read Jude 1:24-25 again and memorize it. Jesus has no intention of erasing your name from his list or excoriating you in heaven. He wants to get you there whole, complete, and blameless.