No one knows the trials and sufferings we may go through that will really put our faith to the test. I’d like to think that my relationship with God is rock solid and that I will hold on till the very end, but on what basis am I making this claim? Because I go to church, pray to God, and read the Bible every so often?

The answer is obvious when we look at some of the people who were closest to God. Judas, a man who had the incredible opportunity to walk and talk with Jesus as one of his disciples, turned on Him. Paul, the greatest Christian who’s ever lived, adds “lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” to his letter as insurance (1 Corinthians 9:27). Even today, there are former pastors or missionaries who dedicated years and years for serving the Lord, only to turn against God later on.

So if these people can falter, it’s very possible that the same could happen to us, no matter how strong we think our relationship with Him is. I’ve always wondered if there was a guarantee, a promise that the Bible provides as a way to ensure that my foundations will stay strong like rock rather than sand (Matthew 7:24-27).

It’s very likely that at some point later in my life, I may experience something so tragic that it will shake the foundations of my faith to its very core. So is there a way to know for certain, a guideline we can follow to make sure with absolute certainty that we won’t falter? Fortunately, there is!

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
– 2 Peter 1:5-11

“If you practice these qualities you will never fall.” You can’t get a promise more explicit than that. As long as you supplement your faith with 7 things (virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love), you will never, ever fall from your faith despite the trials and tribulations you may be going through.

Such reassurance puts me at peace. But what’s made just as clear is that it won’t be easy. As we strive to not stray from on the narrow path, let’s “make every effort” to follow this guideline and be 100% reassured that we will make it until the very end by doing so.

-Solomon