May 13

“An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” — 1 Pet 1:4-5

It is related of a saintly man, that by his own request his only epitaph was “Kept!” All Christians are kept by the power of God unto final salvation. Only those who overcome at last get home to glory. Only Christ can help us to be conquerors. And important as was his death for us, his real work in saving us is that which he does with us, one by one, in keeping us, guiding us, giving us grace for living, lifting us up when we have fallen, bringing us back when we have wandered away. Were it not for the patient, watchful, never-wearying love of Christ–not one of us would ever get home. We are kept!

This divine keeping comes to us in many ways. We believe in angel guardianship. Then there is human guardianship. The mother is her child’s first keeper. The old rabbis used to say that God could not be everywhere present, and therefore he made mothers. All through life God gives human guardians who become helpers of our faith. Then we have ever the real divine presence in which we find perfect keeping. “The Lord is your keeper.” Psalm 121:5