While we can’t earn eternal life through our good works (Ephesians 2:8-10), faith, obedience, and enduring the maturing process guarantees our success.
Last time I talked about your value in God’s eyes. Today, I will talk about retaining your value. We’re not here simply to be admired and blessed by God without fulfilling some conditions.
Everyone has been corrupted by sin and God’s trying to do some major renovations in our souls. While he could’ve discarded us in our broken condition, his great love spared us for repair (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).
However, if we don’t allow him to finish the work in us, we will lose our value and be trashed. But first: how can we retain our value?
What God wants from you
You can retain your value by first believing in God’s ability to clean you up. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God requires faith:
It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him (Hebrews 11:6).
Romans 8:29 reveals that God’s ultimate plan for us is to be conformed to the image of his Son:
For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29).
This means, by the time you leave this earth, your soul should resemble the character and mind of Jesus Christ (see also: Ephesians 5:25-27; Titus 2:11-12).
The consequences for rejecting the process
The process of maturing your soul will be painful (Romans 12:1-2). Because of this, you may want to opt out, but this will result in destruction. So don’t be rebellious. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t stray. Just stay in Christ.
We’re like branches on a grapevine and God wants us to produce fruit. Here’s what Jesus has to said about resisting the growing process by detaching from God:
I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned (John 15:1-6).
It’s clear if you don’t produce fruit, you will eventually lose your value and be discarded.
We don’t want that.
Benefits of staying in Christ
John 15:7-8 continues with the benefits of enduring the process:
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father (John 15:7-8).
So the benefits are receiving the desires of our hearts, maturity, and glorifying God.
You’re guaranteed to win
Philippians 1:6 says:
I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6)
With a God who’s committed to the completion of your spiritual renovation, you can be confident knowing you will be successful, but only if you stay with God.
All you have to do is believe and obey, and you will retain your value to the glory of God.
This ministry is no longer in service. I left the Christian faith and no longer agree with some of the content posted here. However, this website will remain available for archive purposes. Read the details in my last post.
