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How Able Is Our God To Keep Us From Falling?
 If God always rescued us, we would not need faith and hope. Our religion would be a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6) Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first. " If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. (Daniel 3:17)
For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7 ). The more we understand what God is able to do, the more extensively we will trust in His promises. Three young Israelites (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) gave powerful testimony of the ability of God. In Daniel 3:4-6 King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the people to engage in idolatry, under threat of severe consequences. "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn...you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." The three young men had a bold answer, based on the ability of God. They did not bow down, so they were thrown into the blazing furnace.
The Lord demonstrated His ability on their behalf. When the king looked into the furnace, he exclaimed, "Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Yes, God proved able to deliver them. God's deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was a great victory of faith for the Jews in captivity. They were protected from harm, they were comforted in trial, God was glorified, and they were rewarded. Let us determine to be true to God no matter how difficult the pressure or punishment. God's protection transcends anything we could imagine.
With full assurance of faith, Jude wrote of God's ability to keep believers from falling. Although trials are widespread and dangerous, we don't have to be afraid if we trust God and are rooted and grounded in Christ. God can keep His people from stumbling while on earth and present them faultless when they reach heaven. We all know our own capacity to stumble spiritually into transgression or compromise. Also, the enemy's condemnations often rob us of the hope that we will eventually stand before our Lord in glory, fully forgiven, cleansed, and transformed. But we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:5)
We can have full assurance of faith and hope in our God. We don't have to be afraid if we trust God and are rooted and grounded in Him. Although are tempted to give in to sin, we need not be afraid or give up in despair - God can keep us from falling, and He guarantees, "that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21) |
