Precautions
If you have been to a doctor’s office you have had your temperature taken to see if you have a fever. I got off the elevator the other day at the doctor’s office, and as the doors opened they had someone specifically there to do this test and to give you an arm band. This is because of the coronavirus that has stopped much of our world from doing things as they normally did. They have questions that ask about COVID—if you have had it, been around anyone who has, have a cough, to name a few. Personally, I don’t mind them doing this and am happy to submit to them. I don’t want the virus and appreciate the testing that is done to make sure I am safe.
After going through some of this, I got to thinking about another kind of precaution. This one has far more reaching consequences than the virus one may contact. And yet many people today are not at all concerned about this. This one is: what precautions are we taking to make sure of our salvation and our home with God?
After death our souls will continue to live in either heaven or hell. We must choose which it will be for us. No one can be saved for us, and no one can take our salvation from us. However, we must be obedient to our Creator. We must do what He asks of us in the New Testament.
After we are saved from our sins we must remain faithful to Him in order to receive the “crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) This means if we are not trying to be faithful in obedience and service to God, we will lose the salvation Jesus has so freely given to us.
Note a couple of verses of scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (NASB) This was not written to unbelievers but to the church of God at Corinth. In the book of Galatians Paul wrote to these Christians and told them, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4 Again, this was to people who once obeyed the teaching of Christ but then were not faithful and obedient any longer. They were in danger of losing their salvation and home with God.
As we are taking precautions with the COVID virus, lets also make sure of our salvation as well. Peter would tell us, “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” 2 Peter 1:10-11