HE WILL KEEP YOU - IF YOU ARE WILLING

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Jude 1:24

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.


We have a choice, to choose between life and death, to decide if we spend our eternity in the glorious presence of our Heavenly Father or in tears and regret. However, the Lord has the ultimate decision. 


The bible records of a king, Ahab who tried to outsmart God. He kept doing that which was abominable and working in disobedience also with the encouragement of his wife Jezebel, when he was confronted he quickly becomes sober, but eventually awakes and continue to do wrong. He was playing away with God's mercy. He was eventually dealt with. 1Kings 20:35-43, 21:1-29, 22:19-28.


We must understand that the first thing the Lord is interested in is our heart. Yes the Lord is ready to help us, He is willing to empower us to live faithfully to the end but is our heart totally for Him. 


1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”


It was not that David did not make some mistakes too but the truth was that his heart was fully with the Lord. 


Look at those the Lord prospered, Joseph and Daniel for instance. What was special about them? Joseph was one out of twelve brothers the same way David had brothers, however something was different about Joseph, his heart was with the Lord. Thus even as a slave in a strange land and having been betrayed by his own brothers, he yet stayed faithful. Thus the Lord made him prosper even as a slave and all the way till he reached the peak. 


Same with Daniel, what was special about him? He came in with others they were all picked due to their brilliance. Daniel decided that he would not defile himself, then we see the Lord come into the picture making him ten times better than his colleagues. 


The trend here is that these all had their hearts set on the Lord. 


We see why David prayed:


Psalms 51:10-12

Create in me a clean heart, O God. 

Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.


Some would say, since it is God that decides everything, I do not need to do anything, I do not need to worry about being good "what will be will be", "the Lord has all things planned out". 


Well you did be surprised that you actually have a say, we have evidence of this when we look at those who were counted as nothing, also those who lost their blessings and were called to serve their younger but they resisted and sought for a better life. Esau and Jabez stand as good examples. 


1 Chronicles 4:10

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.


We do have a say, an old Igbo proverb says "onye kwe Chi ya ekwe" meaning when a man agrees his God agrees with him. Listen to this statement:


Isaiah 1:18-19 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:


We see the Lord calling on sinners to reconsider, that He can help them if only they are willing and obedient. 


The truth is that we can be judged because we have a choice, we can also decide. 


(never forget that you are one out of innumerable before, present and after you) 


Definitely we have a part to play, even Cain was warned:


Genesis 4:5-7

but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord  asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?

You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”


Concerning Judas, I cannot say much, some would say he was destined to. . . but remember these words of Christ:


Matthew 18:7 

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!


Yes there will be bad people, but you do not have to be the one, some will rebel against God, again, you don't have to be the one. 


All the Lord needs is a willing heart, this was what Christ promised when He promised the Holy Spirit:


John 14:26-27 

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


Our heart is all He needs, sincere, willing and obedient. Understanding this, we believe with our heart, that is faith and this He says is the only way we can please Him. 


So,

Jude 1:24-25 

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


Halleluyah. 


He calls us blessed. 


Love

@the watcher. 

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