Are You Truly Secure?
I grew up hearing eternal security pushed to the point that we were told that, if we didn’t feel saved, it was the enemy trying to deceive us because if we prayed “the sinner’s prayer,” our names were in the Book of Life and no one can snuff them out. I heard a testimony of a young woman who did not see a transformation but, because she had “prayed the prayer,” the church leadership convinced her that she was saved (in spite of her continuing to do drugs and live her own life; praise the Lord that 20 or so years later, she did come to truly know the Savior). This happens every day in many churches across the country. They are eager to pray with someone to receive Christ but there is no discipleship, no accountability, no continual interaction to teach people exactly what salvation means.
He who walks with integrity walks securely … ~Proverbs 10:9
As I read this verse in my Bible Promise Book this morning, I stopped. This is what people need to teach!
Dictionary.com defines “integrity” as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” You can’t get those moral and ethical principles apart from the Bible and a close relationship with the Lord. If you want to know that you are eternally secure, this is your litmus test.
It is sometimes argued whether or not a person can ever know for sure that they are saved. I want to tell you unequivocally, Yes! You can know! If you don’t know, then you should examine why it is that you feel this way. I think for some, they know they have a secret sin or something that is blocking God’s presence and so they pass it off by saying, “I don’t know if I’m saved or not.” If that is you, find someone that you trust who will pray with you and hold you accountable so that you can flee that sin or addiction. Whatever you are holding on to is not worth it.
It’s not enough to pray, “God, save me from Hell and take me to Heaven so I can live with you.” It’s not even good enough to say, “God, I’m sorry for my sin.” That’s a start but there is a worldly sorrow that is sorry one is caught and there is a Godly sorrow where one hates their sin and desires to change. Scripture is full of sinners being told, not just to be sorry but to “Repent!” This means “to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one’s life for the better” (dictionary.com). You cannot remain as you are and think God will welcome you into Heaven anyway. God is righteous, and He desires that His children be righteous too.
So, what about you? Are you a person of integrity? Is that integrity due to the fact that you placed your faith in Christ and surrendered your life to Him? If so, then you can be truly secure.
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