In this daily Bible reading the writer tells the Hebrews, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” What is sanctification? It is the process of changing ourselves from sinful people to righteous people: people who live in obedience to the Word of God. Sanctification doesn’t happen immediately. It takes time, and it requires God’s assistance. We must be motivated to change, or change won’t happen. Our true belief in Jesus Christ gives us that motivation.
Additionally, knowing that we cannot at any time be assured that we will go to Heaven provides motivation to live rightly before God. Those that think their Salvation is assured do not have that motivation. Therefore, our mindset must be one of Hope. We must have a healthy Hope that God will allow us into Heaven and live our lives accordingly.
The Bible says, “In hope, we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” If we think we are assured that we are going to Heaven, we will not have the necessary Hope to motivate us. As a result, we will not continue to be sanctified.
The Bible also says that ‘if we are not sanctified we will not see God.’ We will not go to Heaven. The pathway to Heaven is not an easy pathway. It definitely requires our motivation to continue. Our Hope for Salvation will give us that motivation.
