Work Out the Salvation of Your Soul . . .

Work Out the Salvation of Your Soul . . .

and even fear not to attain the divine life to which we are obviously and clearly called according to the words of Scripture!

As far as most people are concerned, they unfortunately work very little or almost not at all on their salvation, otherwise those individuals who have worked out their salvation for a long time would have been quite a bit further ahead a long time ago.

The plain truth is that most people have viewed this matter with overwhelming indifference and without being afraid that they would not reach the goal. Or, what is it that you have worked so hard on? For example, have you worked on gaining full control over your tongue so that all empty talk has stopped?

The results show with undeniable certainty that many people have not really worked with it.

The fact that your religion is useless (Jas. 1:26) has therefore not filled you with fear and trembling.

Or is generosity, sharing with others the thing that you are working so hard on (eight hours a day, a full work day!)? Is it progressing steadily and evenly so that you disperse more and more and more and more over time? Or do you consider yourself almost unemployed?

And how about covetousness—desperately desiring to possess, receive, purchase, acquire more or nicer, or something new and even newer? Have you worked radically and diligently with it? Have you resisted it strongly, so that you are almost finished with buying anything except food and drink?

Have you already become blameless a long time ago when it comes to contentment? What does the plain truth say about this?

And how is it when it comes to exhorting each other? Have you been diligent to do it, so that many brothers and sisters at home and in other countries praise God for your good ministry and your genuine, brotherly love?

What about the many anxieties for almost everything in daily life? Have you worked diligently so that all such thoughts about how it will go with this or that have been permanently eradicated long ago, so that you have already experienced uninterrupted rest in God for an extensive period of time? No restless thoughts?

“Do not be conformed to this world . . . .” Rom. 12:2. How is it going with that? Have you worked radically with resisting this?

Usually, believers do the exact opposite. They imitate as well as they can, as if they were completely ignorant of what the Scriptures have to say! But what about you, dear sister? Are you completely finished with all mimicry so that you do not act like the world in any area?

If we are to follow the exhortation in Romans 12:2 fully, then we must test ourselves thoroughly in everything we do; otherwise we go more or less with the current, like the others! If you are following this motto: “The others do it like this, therefore I can also do it,” you are obviously flowing with the current like a barrel or some other lifeless object!

It is vital to “stand firm,” as it says in the Norwegian national anthem.

“In all labor there is profit . . . .” Prov. 14:23. If you have thus toiled for many years there must obviously be an indescribably glorious result in your life! Even an abundance of the virtues of Christ!

People do not say that they don’t care what the Scriptures say, but they are actually showing it by their negligence.

Negligence, indifference, laziness, and lukewarmness are deadly evils.

May an active interest not be lacking from now on.