P is for Perseverance of the Saints

One of the great truths in the Bible that I cling to the most can be found in the opening verses of what is probably my favourite book - Philippians.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ~ Phil 1:6

This is an immense source of confidence for me. I am extroverted by nature, at ease conversing with friends and strangers alike and easily identified by my loud voice. But none of these things are a reflection of my confidence. True confidence, the kind that's unshakeable, only comes from God (because He is unshakeable, unchanging, eternal). It's God who began a good work in me when He called me to be in relationship with Him and it's God who will bring it to completion that I may live and dwell in the house of the Lord forever, even when the world ends. My salvation is secure in God's abounding love and amazing grace and through the work of His spirit, I am, sometimes very slowly, but continually, being transformed to become Christ-like and to desire to please God.

Perseverance [the constant persistence in a course of action or purpose; steadfast pursuit of an aim, esp. in the face of difficulty or obstacles - OED] is the result of God's preserving grace. I struggle. I struggle with a lot of things. I struggle and I fail. I struggle and I grow. I struggle and I persevere because I know that I am safe in His hands, secure in His love and strong by His grace.

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. ~ Romans 8:30

Predestined, called, justified, glorified in Christ. Past tense because though it's still a work in progress from this end, it's as good as done in God's sight. Because of Christ, the true and perfect sacrifice, once for all and always, I am clean and righteous before God. Not because of who I am, but because of what He's done, not because of what I've done but because of who He is.

My life has been such a rollercoaster of experiences and emotions from March 2007 to about July of this year... and since July, it often seemed like suddenly I had been thrown off the rollercoaster and everything stopped; like I was lying with my face on the ground, feeling nothing... just flat. But I know that through this struggle, and the next, and each and every one, God is with me and in me, and working in me and through me. Though I may sometimes feel flat, or distant, or like nothing much is happening, I know in the end I will be with God... but that He still has a lot in store for me before then =)