II Peter I
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. II Peter 1:10
Diligence
One of my favorite birthday presents was a toy sailing ship, given to me by my grandfather. He was an engineer, and had designed, upgraded, and improved the pinnace. And it actually floated! It actually let the wind blow it around! The rudder was attached to the sails, and when I set it up correctly, it would do loops, diagonals, and even a small amount of tacking into the wind.
I learned a lot about sailing from that boat.
And I took careful care of it.
I cleaned it. I did not leave it out in the weather. I avoided rocky shoals. I never let it run aground. It never left my sight.
It was far from the most expensive toy I ever had.
But it was precious because it was GIVEN to me. And the gift involved toil and sweat. The gift involved the sacrifice of time. The gift showed my grandfather’s love.
And so I never coasted in it’s care and upkeep. Not because I was scared I would lose it. But because I understood the nature of a gift.
Whatever you might think of Biblical terms like “calling” and “election,” neither of these ideas means that Christians coast, either.
God’s GIFT of salvation drives us to take care. To be purposefully His. To be lovingly His. To not take His gift for granted.
We are diligent.