SAVED,,,and the end of times

With all of the news headlines regarding the end of times...it got me thinking. (church this morning definitely contributed too). The news had been filled with predictions of the world coming to an end yesterday, May 21. That obviously did not happen...and on a side note for future reference, only God knows when He will choose for this Earth to no longer exist. That being said, we should always be ready for Judgment Day and our opportunity to meet our Lord and Savior.

Are you SAVED? As our pastor was preaching this morning, an analogy popped in my head. There are so many people in my life that would say they are "saved". While I don't know the validity of their salvation, there are some that may offer God "lip service"...but have never shown "heart service". For instance, Friend #1 simply says they are saved...and may say this several times, but yet their life does not reflect the living God at all. Perhaps they truly asked God into their heart at one point, repented, and prayed...but that appears to be the end of it. In their mind, they are saved because did those things once and they know they are forgiven from here on out.
The above paragraph is not the complete story of salvation...being a Christian is a process and lifestyle. It doesn't simply stop at the moment you accept Christ. Christianity takes work...let's be honest, the Devil doesn't stop working...and neither should our focus on God. There will always be struggles, difficulties, slip ups, sin, and so on...the difference is that we continue to ask for forgiveness, continue to fight for Kingdom work, continue to communicate to God, continue, continue, continue...

The analogy that came to mind is marriage. Yes, on your wedding day you officially entered into your marriage vows and partnership. However, that didn't stop the process of marriage did it? You don't simply have a successful marriage because you made it to the alter. Catch my drift? Marriage takes a lot of work...marriage goes through a lot of ups and downs...marriage takes communication...but marriage is more than worth it. Similar to marriage, is the idea of being "saved". Salvation is definitely a free gift from God, but it doesn't simply end there. I encourage you to continue on...I pray you come to know the living God. It is a fight worth fighting for!