Once Saved, Always Saved?
I used to think that once saved, I would always be saved. This
in part because of the scripture in Romans 8:38 Where Paul makes
the statement:
("For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that
is in Christ Jesus our Lord"). I believed that by Paul making
these statements, he was saying I would always be loved AND
saved. What changed my mind?
On October 25, 2002, I gave birth to a stillborn child at full
term. During the following months (during my grieving period)
after spending several hours in non-stop prayer about the
situation, The Lord took me back (in my mind) to the day I was
in the hospital holding the lifeless child in my arms. He
revealed to me: The way I felt for this lifeless child, was the
same way He felt for us (his children), how did I feel about
this child? I still had an overwhelming love for her.
During this prayer, (I call it a prayer, but it was more like:
I was flat on my face sobbing to the point I couldn't speak) So
in my spirit I poured my heart out to God and told him: "God,
when I whispered in the baby's ears, she couldn't hear me. When
I spoke the words "I love you", she never turned her head to
acknowledge me. She never opened her eyes to see me. I have
accumulated everything a baby needs to survive- food, clothes,
shelter, toys, etc., but this means nothing right now because I
will not be able to take her home with me."
The Lord in his wisdom answered me: He made me understand He
also has children that he calls out to; however, they close up
their ears so they cannot hear him. They shut their eyes so they
cannot see him. He provides everything for them, but they do not
acknowledge Him~ they are dead in their sins. He cannot take
them home with him in heaven because they are dead.
This brings me back to the original scripture, "I am convinced
that neither life nor death or anything can separate us...." The
Love God has, will never change, it will always be there, even
in death, it is just that some people have chosen to remain dead
in their sins. God is a just God that never changes and in his
word, he says that the wages of sin is death!
Maybe at one time they did listen to him. They did hear his
words and he grafted them into the vine, of which we are the
branches. (Originally reserved for the Israelites- the natural
branches- Romans 11:11-24) but because they have closed up their
eyes and ears, and have returned to unbelief, they were cut out
of the vine. He cannot take them to heaven-they are dead.
The good news is God is a forgiving God. In His Word He says
that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have
everlasting life.