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Bowen's Daily Meditations
Devotional: January 13th

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"He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." - Matthew 24:13.

These words were evidently intended to produce the impression (1) that there are difficulties in the way of salvation, be sides those at the entrance of that way; (2) that these difficulties may be overcome; but only (3) by him who contemplates them, appreciates them, prepares for them, and confronts them. The doctrine of " the perseverance of the saints" teaches that every one who is united to Christ by a living faith, will, by virtue of that faith, endure unto the end - will resist and vanquish the various assaults that shall be made upon him.

When the fierce struggle that sometimes precedes the first act of true faith in Christ is over, and the new disciple rejoices in the discovery of God’s wondrous grace, it is difficult for him to apprehend, in its full extent, the necessity of future strife. When, by divine aid, the soul has climbed to some elevated region of which it had never before dreamed, and finds itself amidst flowers and fruits that had no existence in its former world, it rejoices at the translation, and is disposed to look upon that as the place in which to pitch its tabernacle and abide all its days. It is given it there to sojourn for a while; but soon a voice bids it come up higher. It starts to obey the summons; but finds, perhaps, the same formidable enemies that had been encountered below, arrayed to hinder its further ascension. It shrinks and says. There is no need; it is good to be here; God’s grace and a true faith brought me hither, and here it is certainly safe to abide. But, presently, the rainbow of peace, joy and hope, the symbol of God’s covenant with the soul, lifts itself from that region and removes to the higher and fairer place whither the soul is summoned. The soul of the true believer then rouses itself to battle with its foes, and takes no rest until it finds it in the higher region. This is still more heaven-like; but it is not heaven and soon it is necessary to ascend to a higher plateau. " I am saved,’’ says the soul, a thousand times; but the voice from heaven says, " He that endureth to the end shall be saved."

He that endureth shall be saved; and he that findeth salvation, shall endure.

Endurance is salvation; salvation is endurance.

While faith endures, the soul endures.

The end here spoken of is that limit beyond which the enemies of the soul are not allowed to pass. Within that limit they may sometimes hide themselves, but it is only that they may surprise the more by their next assault. Even though we should see the prince of those enemies buried and sealed in the bottomless pit for a thousand years, it is not good to break up our camp. Blessed are you when you hear a voice saying unto you, " It is finished; come to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

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