Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12 NLT

I take a lot of things for granted. I do it every night – I go to sleep and take it for granted that I will waken up in the morning. I take it for granted that Libby will also waken up. Because of that, I think I do not live each day to the full, because I’m thinking that what I don’t do today can be done tomorrow. I don’t treat Libby well enough, thinking that I can always say I’m sorry later, or make it up tomorrow. I really have to change that attitude, because one day tomorrow will not be there – sooner or later!

It came as a shock when I read this verse. Why should I have to hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called me? Surely it will always be there? But if that’s the case, why would Paul have to write these words? Do I therefore wrongly take my eternal life for granted? Perhaps Paul is saying that by holding tightly to it I shall be stronger when I’m fighting the good fight, but perhaps he really is saying that if I don’t hold tightly to it then I might lose it!

Whatever the meaning, it makes me realise that I do take it for granted, and that’s not because of a strong faith. I should not take it for granted, because that is the same as devaluing it. It was bought for me at a huge cost, and I should remember that every single day. I should hold tightly to it for that reason, if for no other. 

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