{"id":13649,"date":"2025-10-12T06:23:32","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T10:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/?post_type=oyb&p=13649"},"modified":"2025-10-12T06:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T10:23:33","slug":"can-we-be-sure-of-our-ultimate-destiny","status":"publish","type":"oyb","link":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/oyb\/can-we-be-sure-of-our-ultimate-destiny","title":{"rendered":"CAN WE BE SURE OF OUR ULTIMATE DESTINY?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

\u201cFor God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9\u201310 ESV).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica to comfort and encourage them concerning the coming \u201cDay of the Lord.\u201d Some feared that they might experience God\u2019s wrath when that day arrived, but Paul reminded them of their secure destiny in Christ. God had not appointed them to wrath, but to salvation. The word \u201cwrath\u201d here refers to the outpouring of divine judgment upon a sinful world, while \u201csalvation\u201d points to the full deliverance and eternal life that belong to all who are in Christ. The reason believers are not destined for wrath is because Christ has already borne that wrath on our behalf when He died for us. His substitutionary death satisfied the justice of God, so that there is now \u201cno condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus\u201d (Rom. 8:1). Whether believers are \u201cawake\u201d (alive and watchful) or \u201casleep\u201d (those who have died), all will \u201clive with Him.\u201d This truth not only assures believers of their eternal salvation but also reinforces their hope of being delivered from divine judgment when Christ returns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We live in a world where judgment seems imminent, yet we do not live in fear. Our destiny is secure because of Jesus\u2019 finished work on the cross. He took our wrath so we could receive His life. As we await His coming, we can face the future with peace and confidence. Whether we are alive when He comes or have already fallen asleep in Him, we will live together with Him forever. Let us, therefore, remain spiritually alert and thankful, ready for our Savior\u2019s return and eager to encourage one another with this blessed hope. For we are destined to live with Christ forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for not appointing us to wrath but to salvation through Jesus. Thank You that He bore our judgment so we could live with Him forever. Help us to stay awake, hopeful, and confident in Your promise as we await His return. In Jesus\u2019 name, amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cFor God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9\u201310 ESV). Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica to comfort and encourage them concerning the coming \u201cDay of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"scripture-book":[1319],"scripture-chapter":[1338],"oyb_day":[1812],"location":[],"class_list":["post-13649","oyb","type-oyb","status-publish","hentry","scripture-book-1-thessalonians","scripture-chapter-1338","oyb_day-october-12"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb\/13649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/oyb"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-book","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-book?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"scripture-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/scripture-chapter?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"oyb_day","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/oyb_day?post=13649"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.garycombs.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=13649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}