May 18

If you are a saint, you are wrapped up in the everlasting arms of almighty power. The devil, however, is wrapped up in chains of everlasting condemnation and cannot shake them off no matter how hard he tries. If he cannot free himself from God's chains, how can he tear you from God's grasp? The devil can tempt a saint only by God's permission. If you believe God loves you, then surely you can trust His wisdom when He releases Satan to assault you. Will it not be when he can be repulsed with the greatest humiliation?

To know that Satan's power is limited, and God's grace is limitless, should restore the spirits of weak believers who fear they will not hold out to the end. God has given Christ the life of every soul within the ark of His covenant. If you are His, your eternal safety is provided for. Was He not able to make you willing to march under His banner and join His quarrel against sin and hell? The same limitless power that overcame your rebellious heart will overcome all your enemies within and without. The God who can make a few wounded men rise up and overthrow a city can also make a wounded spirit triumph over sin and Satan (Jeremiah 37:10). The ark stood in the midst of Jordan until the whole camp of Israel was safely over into Canaan (Joshua 3:17). So does Christ's covenant, which is typified by the ark. Christ, covenant and all, stand to secure the saints a safe passage to heaven.

A word of caution must be given. There is a great danger of believers falling from this comfortable doctrine into a careless security and presumptuous boldness. Although the Christian is secure from a total and final apostasy, yet he may suffer a grievous fall which bruises his conscience, weakens his grace, and brings reproach to the Gospel. To know these dangers lurk in the shadows of this doctrine should be enough to keep the Christian upon his watch at all times.

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