"Kept!"

I Peter 1:5

An old man, who had walked in the way of faith for many, many years, when he was about to die, was asked by his family, "What would you like for us to put on your tombstone?" After a long and thoughtful silence, the old saint answered, "KEPT!" That is a good description of every believer's life. We are "KEPT by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

1. WE ARE KEPT AND PRESERVED IN LIFE BY THE POWER OF GOD UNTIL THE APPOINTED DAY OF OUR CALLING (Jude 1). This is what the old puritans called "Prevenient Grace". It is grace that goes before and prepares the way for God's saving grace in Christ. Because God made an everlasting covenant of grace for us, chose to save us in eternal election, and redeemed us by the blood of Christ, he kept us, provided for and protected us, until the hour that he gave us life in Christ.

2. WE ARE NOW KEPT AND PRESERVED IN THE WAY OF FAITH AND LIFE BY THAT SAME POWER AND GRACE OF GOD (Jer. 32:38-40).

This is the word of our Savior, regarding all his elect, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28). I know that salvation is the work of God alone. And "I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccles. 3:14).

3. AND ALL WHO TRUST CHRIST ARE KEPT IN ALL THEIR WAYS, BY THE POWER AND GRACE OF GOD, THROUGHOUT THEIR PILGRIMAGE UPON THE EARTH (Psa. 91:9-11).

As we walk before God by faith, seeking his glory, doing his will, serving the cause of Christ in this world, we shall be kept from all evil in all our ways. Yes, "Mortals are immortal here until their work is done." The very angels of God are charged by our Lord to keep us! Though the flesh is opposed to us, though Satan roars against us, though the world charms us, though trials trouble us and though temptations vex us, we are "KEPT!"

Don Fortner