Back when I was 18, I had many different opinions about politics and religion and the world in general. I am from a Roman Catholic background. There was much about Roman Catholic customs and beliefs that I wasn’t enthusiastic about. But I was enthusiastic about Jesus Himself. And when someone gave me a Gideons New Testament, I started reading it, and I liked it. But as I said, there was much else to distract me.
Soon, I heared evangelical Christians speaking about the need for personal faith. “Born again” was a popular term back then. It refers to your spiritual birth, which can happen much later in life than your physical birth. The thinking was that you weren’t a true Christian by being baptized as a baby. You need to personally commit yourself. I did this on August 18th 1980. There was one little part of me that wondered how long it would last. Would it be a fad or a phase. I had a lot of fad and phases in my teens. Around the same time, I was big into communism. That didn’t last very long 😀.
Anyway, I did stick with Jesus. Perhaps it was more of a promise to God than one to myself. I do try to commit myself to be truly holy and to grow spiritually. My progress seems much slower than I’d like. But I believe that committing your life to Christ is all about being willing to learn from Him and being aware of how much you have to learn. I frequently quote this parable on this blog, because I draw great comfort from it.
Luke 18:9-14
9 He also spoke this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed by himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men: extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Ultimately, all the credit for our salvation goes to God. Our bit is to believe. And when we do believe, He keeps us and enables us to persevere. You could even argue that our desire to believe comes from the Holy Spirit in the first place.
John 10: 27-30
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
And here are some hymns about perseverance:
Hibernia Gospel 