Godly Fear and Seriousness

“Lest . . . I myself should become disqualified [KJV: a castaway; German Tr.: rejected].” 1 Cor. 9:27.

Therefore the very great and glorious apostle who is far ahead of all of us, reckoned with the possibility that, in spite of everything, he could be rejected if he was not always one hundred percent devoted and faithful to Christ in all things.

This is the kind of godly fear and seriousness for which all of us absolutely need to fight in these days, and when we have received it, that we keep it fervently until the end. May the Lord Himself awaken each one among us to this end so that none of us deceives himself and is bitterly disappointed, staying or remaining behind when Jesus returns in order to fetch those who are worthy, or ready, to be with Him as part of His body, His bride.

This whole matter is for us—as it is also for the world—a crucial:

Either / Or!

Either we are ready when He comes, or we are absolutely not ready, in which case we will most certainly stay behind.

Either we belong most definitely to that little, overcoming flock, or we do not have victory over all sin. Only those who are victorious will go with Him; not the others. What seriousness!!!

Either there is someone whom we cannot bear from the heart, or we bear and are forbearing with everyone, remembering them fondly irrespective of how sympathetic or unsympathetic they appear to be to us as natural people, etc., etc.

If all of this is not in perfect order, my beloved, widely disparate (as natural people), true friends, then:

Attack the matter right away!

Full steam ahead!

It is urgent! Let it be of the utmost importance to put everything in perfect order as quickly as possible in order to achieve a thoroughly overcoming life, so that you can also mature in all that is holy and pure, so that on that Day that will soon dawn, we can be ready as a pure and mature bride, as His worthy bride, as His most intimate, in all eternity.

May God Himself give you grace to that end—you, personally—you who are reading these lines. Let it happen!

Elias Aslaksen