Can You Forfeit Your Heavenly Home?

“There shall be no vacant thrones in glory when all the chosen are gathered in.” – C.H. Spurgeon

I believe in both election and eternal security. In other words, whereas the offer of salvation is available to everyone (John 3:16), no one chooses to accept that free gift of his or her own volition. Because we are God’s enemies (Romans 5:10) and dead in our sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1); we do not seek after God (Romans 3:11). Instead, Jesus seeks after us (Luke 19:10); and it takes the Holy Spirit to irresistibly draw us to the cross and to breathe new life into us (Genesis 2:7 and Ezekiel 37).

Eternal security is the belief that “once saved, always saved”. At the moment that we genuinely trust Jesus as our Savior and are born again (John 3); we are adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5) and grafted into the tree of Israel (Romans 11). That means that God will never cast us aside or disown us (John 6:37 and Hebrews 13:5).

The following illustration by Charles Spurgeon, aptly named the “Prince of Preachers”, explains these dual doctrines far better than I ever could.

“I love the quaint saying of a dying man who exclaimed, ‘I have no fear of going home; I have sent all ahead of me. God's finger is on the latch of my door, and I am ready for Him to enter.’ ‘But,’ said one, ‘are you not afraid lest you should miss your inheritance?’ ‘Nay,’ said he, ‘nay; there is one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could not wear; it will fit no head but mine. There is one throne in heaven which Paul the apostle could not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it.’ O Christian, what a joyous thought! Your portion is secure; ‘there remains a rest.’ ‘But cannot I forfeit it?’ No, it is entailed. If I be a child of God I shall not lose it. It is mine as securely as if I were there.”

“Come with me, believer, and let us sit upon the top of Nebo and view the goodly land, even Canaan. Do you see that little river of death glistening in the sunlight, and across it do you see the pinnacles of the eternal city? Do you mark the pleasant country and all its joyous inhabitants? Know, then, that if you could fly across you would see written upon one of its many mansions, ‘This remains for such a one, preserved for him only. He shall be caught up to dwell forever with God.’"

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 (BSB)

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President