A Spiritual Multipoint Inspection

When I heard that a man I respected had expressed fear he wouldn’t enter the Kingdom of God, it made me think. When was the last time I checked my spiritual oil or stopped to look around to see if I was still on the right path?

A man that I looked to as a grandparent recently died. I was shocked when I was told that he had been concerned that he wouldn’t make it into the Kingdom of God. The idea of his being afraid of missing out on God’s Kingdom was surprising to me. He was a man devoted to God.

Not entering the Kingdom was not something I had thought about a lot. I had gone along for the most part thinking that it was promised, therefore I didn’t have to worry.

But hearing of his fear made me think about Philippians 2:12: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (emphasis added). Though the Church members in Philippi had obeyed, Paul exhorted them to continue working out their salvation with fear and trembling.

What did Paul mean?

William Barclay says, “The word he uses for work … always has the idea of bringing to completion. It is as if Paul says: ‘Don’t stop halfway; go on until the work of salvation is fully wrought out in you.’”

For “fear and trembling” Vincent’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament says, “Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution. ‘This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation. … It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which … shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Savior.’”

Paul taught diligence and caution, not terror, with the knowledge that God “who has begun a good work in you will complete it” (Philippians 1:6). At the end of his life, Paul was convinced that he and all the others who love Christ’s appearing will receive a crown of righteousness in God’s Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:8).

My spiritual multipoint inspection

In thinking of these things, I realized that I needed to check my spiritual oil and map. A flood of topics of study soon filled my thoughts. One of these topics was about making my calling and election sure. I found that 2 Peter 1 was a good place to find a multipoint inspection. Peter helped me get out of the car, check the oil, kick the tires and review where I was going as well as how I was getting there.

Starting with one attribute and following it to make sure others are built onto it, Peter wrote a “checklist”: Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2 Peter 1:5-7).

The list doesn’t seem too hard, does it? It’s pretty easy to go down the list and check things off—or is it? Not only should we have these traits, but we should abound in them (verse 8).

• Is my faith even as big as a mustard seed?
• Am I considered by those around me to have the highest of qualities?
• Does my knowledge abound (not just in school, work and life, but in God’s Word)?
• Does the amount of self-control I use merely keep me out of trouble, or am I able to avoid anything and everything that could be counted against me?
• What about perseverance? Yes, I may be continuing with my calling, but am I still running with the amount of zeal I once did?
• Am I walking in the godly footprints that Christ walked for me, or am I just a little to the right or left?
• Do I express kindness to everyone or just those that I “click” with?
• Does my love for others have a limit, or do I love with godly love?

That abounding part makes the checklist a little harder to say yes to, doesn’t it? I found that some of the checkmarks may have to be erased when I apply the abound aspect to them.

Warnings and promises

Peter then puts a warning light in between wonderful promises. “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (verse 9).

But the great promises God inspired Peter to write are that if we do these things and abound, then we will not be barren or unfruitful; we will not stumble (“abandon your faith,” Good News Translation); and a large and welcoming entrance will be given to us into the Kingdom of God (verses 8, 10-11).

Peter’s intention in writing this passage was not to discourage his readers. Rather, he acknowledged their hard work and dedication to God. Peter was giving us all a reminder to check the oil, kick the tires and make sure we are still on track.

There are many lists of qualities and traits in the Bible that we should possess, but 2 Peter 1 gives me plenty to work on for now. I have found it helpful to use it to develop a spiritual checklist, including things I have made progress on as well as things I’ve mastered maybe not so much. A checklist allows me to keep track of my progress and give myself reminders when I might slip. It also allows me to let my wife or a friend in on my checklist when I need help and accountability.

By working out with fear and trembling this plan to make my calling and election sure, I can be reassured by Peter’s words: “If you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Taylor Tootle and his wife, Erin, attend the Cincinnati/Dayton, Ohio, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.