My father had A LOT of tools. Most men who have tools have a favorite brand. For hand tools (wrenches and ratchets and the like) my dad’s favorite was craftsman.
He liked the fact that they were made with quality in America, but important to him was the lifetime guarantee policy.
If the tool broke for any reason you could return it. You could have the tool for 30 years and if it breaks you simply take the tool to the store and they hand you a replacement. The tool was forever covered.
Yesterday my sermon focus was on eternal security. This is the teaching that if one is saved, they will never fully fatally lose that salvation. Today I wanted to address a thought I have had as I reflected on that teaching.
I was thinking of the people we know who have been associated with the faith in some way. Maybe they are raised in the faith, maybe they were youth group friends or something similar. But as time passed they are no longer a part of the faith.
What do we do with that?
I have a child in which this has happened. Brought to church from infancy, taught Bible songs, attended church camps, was even baptized. However, a few years after high school was no longer interested in church.
He was not angry or resentful. He would still reflect fondly on early church memories and friends. But he was not faithful in anyway, reading or being a part of a faith family.
What do we do with that? I am n the only on. It is a tragic thing isn’t it? It feels even more tragic because you raised this child.
The Scripture does clearly teach that if you are truly saved, you will not FULLY or FATALY fall. You may have a season of unfaithfulness. But like the prodigal son, there will be an awakening and you will return to the open arms of a welcoming Father. Though this person was straying sinfully, they are still a part of the family.
If one is truly saved, born again, born from above as John 3 teaches, they are given the Spirit. And this Spirit is the guarantee (as Paul puts it). Lifetime guarantee. The seal of God. Let us continue to pray for those away from the family.
And as it is written in Ephesians 1:5-6 it is all for His glory.