"Left behind"– letting go of the fear of falling from grace

My husband, one day, was coming around the house from the back yard, to find our car doors open with the engine running but no one around. As he stood there wondering what was going on, he had a thought... "Was I left behind?" Just then, I came from the neighbors house and saw his stunned expression on his face. When he told me he thought the rapture came, we laughed.

Although that was a comical moment, it is a troubling thought. Maybe you are afraid that one day you might fall from God's grace. This scares you because you keep messing up; have lost the passion for reading His Word; or your faith is weak. You believe in Him but, question if you can be faithful to Him when the enemy deceives.

My first question I have to ask you is; do you believe Jesus is the only way to get to heaven? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:8)(HCSB)."  Second, do you, in your own heart, believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again on the third day? And third, do you know that He saved you and living a life changed forever to serve Him?

If you answered "yes" to the above questions, then you are a believer in Christ, and you have hope! If you answered "no," than it's not to late – the rapture has not happened, yet. Pray for Jesus to come into your life. We climb up high mountains and fall down deep valley's in life. At the top, we can get too comfortable and begin to take control of our own lives. When we see that this doesn't work, we fall down into a deep valley and realize we need a savior. This can feel like failure. The more we are on this ride of life the more it looks like we can never measure up. This is sin and why we are undeserving of God's grace. Despite our imperfections He gave us the gift of eternal life through His son, Jesus; who was without sin (Rom. 6:23). If you believe in Him, you are not a failure because Christ died for all your failures. Keep following Him no matter how many times you mess up. Ask Him for forgiveness and know he will never leave you. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us, "The Lord is the One who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged (HCSB)."

Not only has God given His own son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you but he rose again to prepare a place in heaven for you. Have comfort that He loves you and is coming back for you. Jesus says in John 14:1-3,“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also (HCSB)."

Now that you know He loves you and will be back for you, you need to know you can never be plucked from His hand. Jesus as the great Shepherd, takes care of His sheep. He tells us this in John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish —ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one (HCSB).”

Take some time this week to read these scriptures. The more you meditate on His Word, the more you will thirst for it. Then you will be comforted and encouraged and your faith will grow. Let go of your fear of falling from His grace. You have God's gift so live as though you received it. You will not be "left behind."

"Jesus I am a sinner and I need forgiveness. Thank you for forgiving me through your sacrifice on the cross. I know that you have prepared a place for me in heaven. I let go of my fear of falling from your grace. Thank you for keeping me in your hand forever."

© Carol Outhous Jones 2014