Every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an ending, right? Well, this same concept applies to our walk with the Lord. I am not speaking Genesis to Revelation, but our individual relationships with Jesus Christ.
Your story as a Christian began before you were born. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "The world" means every person who has or will ever live on this Earth. Therefore, Jesus died for your sins before you were born. Salvation is a free gift you do not have to earn. This is the beginning for all of us. However, from there it is up to you to decide what will happen next.
As with any gift given to you, you have the free will to accept it or throw it in the garbage. And even if you accept it, you again have the free will to fully use it as intended, only use it when it is convenient for you, or put it on a shelf and ignore it entirely. In other words, we must actively choose the precious gift of salvation by making the decision to repent of our sins and ask Jesus to come into our hearts. It is also an active decision to keep walking the walk and daily repenting of your sins lest you lose your salvation.
To be clear, I do not believe we are saved by our works, again, God's salvation is a free gift we could never earn. However, we must show the utmost respect for this gift and as it states in Romans 6:1-2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" In other words, we are not to abuse the grace of God and use it as an excuse to sin.
If you do not continue striving for holiness and following the principles of Jesus Christ, you put yourself at great risk of losing the precious gift of salvation. I am not talking about every little mistake you make, but willful rebellion, the active choice to go against what the Bible says and refusing to repent.
We need to continue to grow in our walk with the Lord and make a daily decision to give up our sinful habits. Jesus said in Luke 9:23 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Daily means daily, not just denying your sinful nature when you feel like it or are asking God for a favor. This also means choosing to follow Jesus and His ways of righteousness. It requires daily self-examination and repentance. For Jesus also said in John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." And 1 John 2:4 makes it abundantly clear, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
In doubt of what is right or wrong, read the Bible. If God (not man) says something is wrong, it is as simple as not doing it. Here are some examples (see also Revelation 21:8 at the end of this writing):
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [quarreling], emulations [jealousy], wrath, strife, seditions [rebellion], heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings [drunken parties], and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
I think that list is pretty clear for what we should do our very best to avoid as long as we live on this Earth that God so loves. No one is or ever will be perfect, but the key is to strive for holiness, this is what pleases the Lord.
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24
As with every story, the plot must develop and grow lest the storyline become stagnant. In fact, the middle of our stories is really the key to how it will end. Wasn't that point above? Well, yes and no. Aiming for a pure life is vital, but God wants us to do more than just try to avoid sin. We need to grow in Him by reading the Bible and praying, as well as treating others with love and kindness.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14
This is essentially telling us that we need to do more than just understand the basics of salvation (milk) but to grow in the Lord by studying His Word as much as we can and seeking to know the will of God (meat). The more we study and ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we read, the more discernment we will have and the more we will desire to please the One who willingly endured torture on a cross for us.
Now we come to the end of our story. But do we? For Christians who have not merely read the Words of the Lord, but obeyed them as well (But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22), there is no end. There will be an end to this Earth and our mortal bodies as they now exist, but there will not be an end to your existence. This is why the beginning and middle are so very, very important. If you want to spend eternity with Jesus, you must press forward in attempting to always do the right thing, or your end will be in the lake of fire, not in paradise forever.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:1-8
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