Faithful Assurance: Persevering in Belief Until Christ's Return

Will You Still Believe Tomorrow Morning?

As believers, we often ask ourselves, “Will I still believe tomorrow morning?” or “Will I have the strength to endure in my faith until the end?” These are valid questions, as we’re all human and susceptible to the struggles and temptations of this world. However, the answer lies not in our own strength but in the faithfulness of God.

Our Assurance in God’s Faithfulness

It’s easy to get caught up in our own efforts to remain faithful and forget that our faith is not dependent on our own abilities but on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. In John 10:28, Jesus says, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” This assurance is not based on our own merits but on the unchanging character of God.

The Apostle Paul also reminds us of God’s faithfulness in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Our salvation is not a one-time event but a lifelong process that God is continually working in us. If we have been justified by faith, we will be glorified. It is as good as done, as Paul says in Romans 8:30, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Therefore, our assurance in our faith and our ability to endure until the end is not based on our own strength or efforts but on the faithfulness and promises of God.

Our Need for Perseverance

However, while our faith is secure in God’s faithfulness, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have a responsibility to persevere in our faith. In Hebrews 10:36, the author says, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Our perseverance in our faith is evidence of our genuine faith and our hope in the promises of God.

Perseverance is not just a matter of gritting our teeth and enduring through tough times. It’s a matter of relying on God’s strength and grace to sustain us through trials and temptations. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Our perseverance is also fueled by our hope in the promises of God. As the author of Hebrews says in 6:19, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” Our hope is not in this world or in our own abilities but in the promises of God, which are secure and unchanging.

Our Dependence on God

Our perseverance in our faith is not just a matter of relying on God’s strength and grace but also of depending on him for everything. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Our dependence on God is not just a matter of spiritual discipline but of acknowledging our own weakness and need for him in every aspect of our lives.

As we depend on God, we also need to be vigilant against the temptations and distractions of this world. In 1 Peter 5:8, the Apostle Peter says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Our dependence on God is not a passive state but an active one where we’re continually on guard against the attacks of the enemy.

Our Assurance in Christ’s Return

Finally, our assurance in our faith and our ability to endure until the end is also rooted in our hope in Christ’s return. As the author of Hebrews says in 9:28, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Our hope is not just in the promises of God but in the person of Jesus Christ, who will one day return to fulfill all his promises and bring us into eternal life with him.

As we eagerly await Christ’s return, we need to be actively preparing ourselves for his coming. In 2 Peter 3:11-12, Peter says, “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” Our hope in Christ’s return should motivate us to live holy and godly lives, actively pursuing righteousness and avoiding sin.

Conclusion

So, will we still believe tomorrow morning? The answer is not based on our own strength or efforts but on the faithfulness and promises of God. Our assurance in our faith and our ability to endure until the end is rooted in our dependence on God, our perseverance in our faith, our hope in the promises of God, and our hope in Christ’s return.

As we live out our faith day by day, let us cling to these truths and rely on God’s strength and grace to sustain us. Let us actively pursue righteousness and avoid sin, knowing that our hope is not in this world but in the person of Jesus Christ, who will one day return to fulfill all his promises and bring us into eternal life with him.