Crossing the Rubicon-there is no way back

When God redeems a life, it is for a purpose and His intention is that such a person will continue in fellowship with Him. Salvation from sin and acceptance of the Lordship of Christ is not the end of the journey, but a beginning of a journey that is hoped to end with God in eternity. God expects our continued walk and in this He takes delight. No intermittent or in and out is allowed in this journey (Galatians 2:18). And there is no need for fear, anxiety, speculations or reconsideration. Jesus gave a stern warning to His followers because He knew some of them are skeptical and they did not really know what they were putting themselves into, so He needed to tell them that "No one having put his hand on the plow, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62). Solomon, the wisest king also alarmed that we should beware of them that are giving to change. Though many things are changing, the world, its system, people, but God remains constant, He is unchanging and His standard uncompromising for all human race (1 Tim 2:19). It was a crucial matter and Jesus needed to ask His disciples if they too are going back because at a time many could not endure His sayings, but they unanimously answered that they have no where to go for He has the word of life (John 6:60, 66-67). Having crossed the Rubicon, there is no way back. God has decided a lasting journey for His followers which must not end abruptly (Psalm 85:8, 1 John 2:28, 2 Peter 2:20-21). A song writer succinctly puts:

At the cross you knelt and were converted 

Jesus saves your soul that happy day

Now that He has led you from the broad road

Never leave the straight and narrow way

Don't turn around to the things you've left behind

All those bridges you've burned don't try to find

Set your face like a flint and walk right unto the promise land

Don't turn around to the things you've left behind.

Though circumstances of life and situations at times may propel someone to think otherwise. There are personal life challenges, unfavourable economic conditions and the god of this world wants everyone to bow in order to get the crumbs that he offers. Each day presenting its own trouble, the road seem weary and the journey bleak, and the devil in particular is making the journey hard and difficult for the beloved children of God. He programmes various things along our path to dissuade and discourage  finest believers. He does not care about the number of years that you have put into your service and walk with God. His utmost aim is to make one unfit and end the journey to heaven abruptly. There are  many casualties already on the way to heaven. Satan keep placing things to entice, deform, seduce, manipulate and distorts believer's journey knowing fully well that without his trouble we will have a safe and easy passage to our eternal abode. The intensity of his battle against the saints is getting stronger and fiercer as the coming of the Lord approaches. With his threats, he wants us to succumb, be troubled, reconsider our way and turn back. Although the journey may be getting lonesome, wearisome and troubling, but God still comforts the weary and the fainting, and He has promised to give all the necessary support and the needed grace and help that will see us through. For He is the custodian of grace to scale through this evil and wicked world, and in Him we see and receive the light that will brighten our path as we journey day by day (Galatians 2:21, Matthew 28:20).

But we will never back out or turn back from our journey to eternity (Philippians 2:12b, 3:14). Jesus has already forewarned us that in this world, there will be tribulation (John 16:33) because we are opposed to the world and to Satan. But there is an assurance that we should cheer up for He has overcome for us. This is now the time to get closer to God than ever, longing and panting after Him. These are the days when our resolutions and affirmations to love, fear, serve, and follow Him to the end must be firm, strong and resounding than ever (Ephesians 5:15-17). It is our resolve that matters, because devil will continue to do his atrocities, and with his enticing baits will desire to lure vulnerable souls to follow his dictates and destined destructive and pernicious ways. But God wants to succor us and aid us in our hour of need though Satan desperately hates us, and does not want to see us make it to heaven. Henceforth, our prayer will be the wordings of a song-strengthen all the ties that binds me, closer, closer Lord to thee, every bridge is burned behind me, thine I ever more will be.

Going back and forth, Satan accused Job before God, and he troubled him to the extent that he began to curse the day that he was born. And this was simply because Satan wanted him to renounce God. He busy himself every moment hunting for people to throw down. To worsen the situation is the chaotic condition in which the world is right now, and no one truly seem to know the way out. Evil is becoming like a norm and the wicked ones are waxing stronger doing dubious things. And the believers are not exempted from troubles posed by the god of this world. As they desire to live godly and be different, they are tagged, and looked down upon as if they do not belong. And they are truly not of this world though they are in the world. Devil has been permanently defeated on the cross when Jesus declared "It is finished." Jesus paid for the redemption of the souls of all human race to bring us back to God. But Satan is daily seeking and wanting to get back to himself those who have chosen the way of the cross that leads to heaven. Although Peter denied his Lord and master but he repented and wept bitterly, but Judas who betrayed his Lord for 30 pieces of silver was only remorseful but not repentant, he ended up hanging himself (Mark 14:72, Matthew 26:75, 27:3-5). So, as the world beckons, and Satan throw his darts, our flesh weak and almost getting tired of the way, we need to ask for fresh grace and divine cord to tie and bind us closer to God. For our eternal salvation is much closer than when we first believe.