After being delivered from Pharaoh at the Red Sea, the children of Israel found themselves facing a barren wilderness they were to journey through to the land promised to them in Canaan. And the Lord went before them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead the way.

Now, all of these things were done as a typology of the salvation and sanctification that was to come later through Jesus Christ, so that those who are saved and follow the Lord might have a clear picture of their pilgrimage through this life to the next.

But God was not pleased with many of the children of Israel, for they perished in the wilderness after having been saved from Egypt. Now, the things that happened and how they fell were written as an admonition for those who would come after. For they became an example for those who are called by the Lord not to turn aside or assume they cannot fall from grace.

Of those who came out of Egypt, most died in the wilderness. “Therefore, let us also fear lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, anyone should seem to come short of it, for some, when they had heard, did provoke. But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?” (Hebrews 4:1 & 3:17). Again in Hebrews 4:11, we are warned, “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

In 2 Peter 1:10, Peter concurs, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” Peter did not say your calling and election are sure; he says to give diligence to make them sure.

Israel received a promise of a homeland; likewise, those who accept Christ receive a promise of an eternal homeland. But just as the promise to Israel was conditioned on obedience, so also the fulfillment of the promises given by Christ follows obedience to him. Only those who follow Christ until the end receive the fullness of promises.

Israel is the example God has provided to us that we might avoid what befell those who perished in the wilderness. By disregarding Old Testament scriptures, the teachings of the New Testament are corrupted; this is evident in the fallen fruit of Christianity. Well-known preachers and pastors have fallen into sin by trusting in false doctrines of “once saved, always saved”.

God did not shaft the world for 4000 years by denying eternal security to those before Christ, only to alter his judgments for those who came after so they could sin freely and skate into heaven.

Neither did God alter His judgments; rather, through Christ, He perfected the means of salvation in the time appointed by providing the perfect sacrifice for sin—and not only for the sins of those who were to come after, but also for the sins of those who died before Christ looking for his salvation.

Nonetheless, the perfect sacrifice did not alter the personage of God; His righteous judgments still stand. God remains the same yesterday, today, and forever—a consuming fire to all who choose to live in sin, regardless of whether they have known the way of righteousness or not.

Salvation is freely given by the grace of God, but the inheritance is only received in full when Jordan is crossed. As the land of Israel was conquered by the sword of Joshua, the Kingdom of Heaven is secured by the sword of the Spirit. The violent take it by force.

All who remain in Christ live by faith in his promise until the day entrance into heaven is granted and the promise is fulfilled. Those who continue in the faith have forgiveness of sins, but those who turn back fulfill the scripture in John 6:66. There remains no sacrifice for sin for those who become absolutely reprobate after knowing the Lord.

Hebrews 10:26-29 states, “If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

Pray for those who are in error by preaching the doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” Its teachings stand on scriptures out of context. May the Lord open the eyes of those given to the widespread deception of eternal security.

An eternally secure salvation is one of absolute dedication on the part of the believer, for the Lord will never leave or forsake you. The dedicated ones cannot be snatched from the hand of the Lord, but so it is with the ungodly who once knew God but choose to walk away—turning back is not being “snatched”; it is a willful rejection of faith.

There will be no rest for those who turn back. Remember, Satan’s first message to humanity in Eden was “You shall not die.” The same message continues to lead many astray.

“Strait is the gate, narrow is the way, and few there be that find it.” Even so, Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We can do all things through Christ Jesus; he won the victory. Take courage like Joshua and Caleb, who, by faith, traversed the wilderness, then entered the land and took possession of it by force. You do not have to die in the wilderness.