Cause & Effect

"The Promises of God are given
to those who live a righteous life."

[Source]

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By our faith in the power of His death and resurrection, we have been made right with God. (Ephesians 2:8) But by the choice and through the conscious effort to continually walk in His ways, we ensure that that righteousness grows, affects and blesses our lives and our days to come. (Proverbs 11:18b)


Sure, the price for our sins was paid on the cross 2,000 years ago (John 3:16), but with every challenge put before us that we fail to emerge victorious (remember 1 Corinthians 10:13), we draw further and further away from the full freedom and victory we've been promised as children of God.

The simple rules
of cause and effect apply.

The extent of God's presence in our lives, the amount of His promises that come to pass, and the degree in which we receive His blessing and provision throughout our days boils down to this:

The choices we make each day.

Live in His ways,
and be worthy of His reward.

So, this is our challenge: To live in righteousness, holiness, salvation and purity in a fallen world. (Hosea 10:12) Because every time we give ourselves over to sin, we trade away our eternal heritage as children of God. And for what? For fleeting worldly pleasures that are here today and gone the next.

That's why the idea of grace being sufficient for the perpetual attainment of eternal life through a loving and merciful God is so misleading to me. That gospel only amplifies the good-to-hear and the easy-to-swallow. But it turns a blind eye toward the rightful place of judgement that is administered by a righteous and holy God. (Psalm 7:11; 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 1:32)


Remember. Although we are saved by grace through faith, the promises of God are still to be met with dedication of heart, obedience to His Word and devotion to Christ-likeness. He is holy and righteous. And if we are truly committed to Him, we will strive to live by His standards.


I have to admit, it's far from easy being in the world but not of the world. After all, it's so human to sin and it's so easy to give in to the Now. But still, I've gotta try. Because Now isn't going to matter very much if Eternity's at stake.


So, as difficult as it may be, till the day my challenge for righteous living is up and I come face to face with my Lord and Saviour, I'll pray hard, press on, and hold on to this and this. And while doing so, I'll patiently await my reward for having lived in His ways as best as I could, and as best as I knew how.


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PROVERBS 11:18b
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...but he who sows righteousness
reaps a sure reward.

– New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.