(Jude 24) Now to God who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

We too often think that it fully depends on our own self-efforts for us to live a victorious Christian life. We too often think God is sitting up in heaven, and he has left us alone and it is all up to us to live an overcoming faith. However, this verse tells us that this is a false and a defeating way of Christian thinking.

First, God is able and active in keeping us from stumbling and falling in our daily Christian lives. We are often unaware that God is intimately active in our daily lives through his power of the Holy Spirit to keep us and sustain us from our own weaknesses and wrong choices here on earth. God is relationally active to uphold us, overcome our temptations, and keep us on the right and straight path.

Secondly, we are often anxious that when we die that our eternity in heaven will be based on whether we will be acceptable to God when we see him face to face. We are afraid of being rejected by God when we die and go to heaven. However, this verse assures us that God is able to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Are you depending on your own self-efforts to be victorious in your Christian lives on earth and in heaven? This is false. Be assured that God loves us. He is active in keeping us from stumbling and failing now on earth, and he will present us into the presence of God in heaven based on his own righteousness (not ours) and will bring us into the joy of the kingdom of God in heaven for eternity. 

Our victory in Christian living must be focussed on God’s loving ability, and not our own striving and self-efforts. Rejoice today!