What you lose.
Salvation is free, but the maintenance is what will cost you.
Anything of value needs to be cared for, if it is to keep or gain value.
God is more than willing to help us, but we have to do our part.
Hebrews 2:1-3
1 ¶ Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
1 Tim. 4:14
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
We need an apreciable salvation. Is your salvation worth more today than it did a year ago. If you cherish what you possess in Christ, it will continue to gain value to you as time goes by.
You can neglect your house, your automobile, your finances, your family, or even your health; and their will be consecuenses you will have to suffer. But the last thing you should ever neglect is your salvation. The results can be eternal.
Neglect can lead to backsliding.
Backsliding = to go backward; reverse motion; returning to a previous state.
Paul explained it this way in Galatians 2:18--For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Just like santification, backsliding is progressive. Most people who backslide, do so over a matter of time. They allow one little wrong and then another, until before they know it, they are completely lost.
What can I lose by my neglect?
1. Your Shout (VICTORY)
Examples: Joshua, Gideon
In the fall of Jerico, Joshua led the people to shout before the walls fell down. When Gideon conquered the Midianites, he had his 300 men to shout before they defeated the enemy camp.
Too many times, we are only apt to shout after we see that God has done some great thing for us. Why not shout for who God is and for what is has promised.
Very often, we take our cue from the world. At the ballgame, the shouts come from the side that is winning and doing great things.
Don’t quit shouting yet. Victory is still yours if you are faithfully caring for your salvation.
2. Your Song (JOY)
Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit
Paul and Silas had kept their salvation up to date, and they were able to sing in the jailhouse at the midnight hour.
A principle of the Bible indicates that we are "leaky vessels". Thus, we need to continue to receive "fresh infillings" from the Lord.
3. Your Service
Ps. 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
Do you serve the Lord out of desire or obligation? If you feel obliged to continue to be a christian and go to church, just because you don’t want to go to hell or because that is what friends and family do, then you are headed the wrong way.
Get back on track with daily prayer and Bible reading. Get your priorities back in line.
Demas and Judas are examples of men who lost out by growing cold in their service for the Master.
4. Your Separation
2 Co. 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Here is where a whole lot of people fall out. They can’t seem to stay away from the things of the world. They begin to take on the ways and fashions of the world until they lose their distinction and separation. Gods’ people are a called out people. We are not called to blend in with the rest. We are decidedly different. Does anyone have trouble identifying you as a christian? If you are drawing as close to God as possible, then you will find that you are farther and farther removed from the world system.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
5. Your Surety of Heaven
Like they say of a foreign language--"If you don’t use it, you will lose it."
Salvation is much like that. You can’t just lay your experience with Jesus Christ up on a shelf and believe that it is going to be the same for you a few years down the road. We are called to live and love this salvation by maintaining it and keeping it fine tuned.
The Bible does relate to us that it is possible to lose this wonderful salvation.
Some of the disciples of Jesus turned back in John 6:66. There are other witnesses in the Word of God of those who were saved, but due to neglect in one or more areas of their lives, they let is slip and have lost hold of this precious gift.
If you buy a new car, but never clean it, never change the oil, never check the fluids; just drive it like there is no tomorrow---you will learn sooner rather than later that you should have not been neglectful; you lost a great possession. There are some who have cars that are 60, 70, 80, 90 or more years old that are still in mint condition. The difference is the way they cared for and maintained the vehicle.
The same is true with your salvation.
