Our salvation isn’t secured by our achievements, but by Christ’s achievement at the cross. We all have moments we’re proud of and moments we’re ashamed of, but as long as we put our trust in Christ, we’re saved, and we’ll go to heaven. Jesus said: ‘I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand.’ And what’s more, God claims us as His. ‘By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge – a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete’ (2 Corinthians 1:22 MSG). We’ve all done something similar – ever engraved your name on a pencil or ruler when you were in school, or written it on a favourite toy? Even when we get older, one of the first things we do when we get a new phone is to choose an image for the lock screen and select a ringtone we like – we seem to be compelled to personalise things and make it clear they belong to us. And through His Spirit, God puts His Name on us and declares His ownership. Satan is driven back by the declaration: This redeemed child is Mine! Where there’s no assurance of salvation, there’s no peace. No peace means no joy. And no joy results in fear-based lives. But God’s grace creates a confident soul who declares, ‘I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with’ (2 Timothy 1:12 NCV). Our salvation and our place in heaven is secure: ‘I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:13 NCV). It’s not about our hold on God. It’s about His hold on us.

What Now?

Choose a photo of yourself and write on it God’s words from Isaiah 43:1: ‘Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine’ (NCV).