Articles
Reservations
The English language is sometimes confusing to even some of us who have only known English as our primary language! For example: The English word reservation. This is a word that can mean “an arrangement to have something (such as a hotel room) held for one’s use” or it can mean “a limiting condition; doubt; misgiving.” If you ask me if I have reservations, you should be clear which definition you mean!
This is also important when we speak of spiritual matters and the question of reservations, for one meaning is a cause for eternal joy, and the other a cause for dread and hopelessness. Let us consider each, as seen within the Scriptures. First, on the positive side:
A Reservation Made by God. If you know even a little about God and the Bible, it is likely you know the saved have an expectation of eternal life in heaven; this is something “which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). John states it very simply: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25). Eternal life in heaven is the ‘arrangement’ God has made for our use — but only for the saved! As much as the world seems to think everyone is getting to heaven, such is simply not the case.
But for the obedient disciple, this is a wonderful promise that will undoubtedly be beyond our imagination! We live our lives here on earth in service to God, seeking to do His will and to please Him in all we do (2 Cor. 5:9), and we know that the “great reward” and “the promise” that awaits us in the end is eternal life in heaven (Heb. 10:34-36)! This, friends and brethren, is a cause for great joy!
When Peter wrote the early disciples — many who had suffered and continued to suffer persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ — he reminded them that God “has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:3, 4). Reserved in heaven! With this in mind, Peter could exhort the brethren to “greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” because of that hope they had, and added, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:6-9). They believed in Jesus and, thus, could rejoice because of what awaited!
The reward of eternal life in heaven is indeed a cause for hope and joy for the people of God — the disciples of Jesus Christ. It was “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Col. 1:5) that was the motivation behind the Colossian disciples’ love for their brethren, and for fruit being produced [i.e., souls being saved, (Col. 1:4, 6)]. It is the mind that is set on the eternal things that can truly rejoice, knowing all material things will not last. Paul had such a mindset when he wrote, “we do not lose heart…For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Every material thing will be destroyed in the end (2 Pet. 3:10-12), so what use is there in trusting in material things for our happiness? We can have the eternal things if we choose to follow Jesus Christ — and that is guaranteed by God!
Reservations of Man. On the other hand, we have far too many men who have reservations of a different kind — that which is defined as “a limiting condition; doubt; misgiving.” The problem is not doubt itself, but the fact that much of this is unfounded and unreasonable doubt. Much of man’s misgivings regarding God, the Bible, the reality of sin, and the claim of heaven, hell, and Judgment have nothing to do with a lack of evidence [though it is often the stated cause]. Much of the doubts are such that they could be eliminated and/or overcome if the doubter would only open the Bible and read and study it with an unbiased mind! Many others are simply too spiritually and intellectually lazy to investigate to see if there is evidence to convict, or even what the Bible actually teaches!
Think about good old ‘doubting Thomas’ for a minute: Here was a man who was absent when Jesus appeared to the other disciples, and was told, “We have seen the Lord.” But Thomas replied, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:24, 25). But when Jesus appeared to them again [this time with Thomas present], Jesus told Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:26, 27). Thomas demanded evidence and Jesus provided it!
We should note there that Thomas, when he doubted, did not say, “I won’t believe, no matter what”; he just wanted to see the evidence Jesus was alive again. Jesus provided that evidence and Thomas then exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Many doubters today have likewise demanded evidence, but have then closed their eyes to the evidence and eyewitness testimony God has provided within the written word, the Bible, and arrogantly and foolishly continue to proclaim there is no evidence! Friend, the reason they never see the evidence is the same reason a thief never finds a policeman!
True faith demands evidence (Heb. 11:1); it is not something we believe without evidence or in spite of evidence to the contrary. But let’s be clear on this: Within God’s word, we do have eyewitness testimony; we do have the testimony of God, who cannot lie (1 John 5:9, 10); we do have, just within the book of John, the record of the miracles, signs and wonders Jesus demonstrated, and John says, “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30, 31). The evidence is there, but we have to open our eyes to see it and our ears to hear it!
Still others continue to have misgivings because they see so many who profess to be Christians, but who are living lives no different than the world; or, they will use any and every shortcoming of a professing Christian as their excuse for doubts. First, let us clarify this misconception that Christians are going to be perfect; we are not and will not be as long as we live here on earth. Christians still sin (1 John 1:8-10), but we do not [or should not] live continually in sin. Yes, Christians are not perfect.
But, second, if you are using the imperfections of professing Christians as your excuse for never obeying the gospel and never becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, you need to know you’re putting your faith in the wrong person! Jesus does not call us out of the world to follow imperfect disciples; He called us out of the world to follow Him! And if your misgivings lie in your doubt that you will live perfectly after you become a Christian, you should awake to the reality we all face every day! The benefit of being a Christian is that we have forgiveness!
So, do you have the reservation made by God, or is it the kind of reservation that will keep you out of heaven? Make you sure you have the right one! — Steven Harper
