The Firm Foundation of God.

     Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
                                    2 Timothy 2:19 NASB

     Here are two very important truths to consider. There are many individuals who consider themselves Christians based upon a number of things. Some may have been baptized at some point, become members of a church, grown up in a Christian home, said a prayer, went forward in an altar call. None of these things are what makes an individual a Christian however.
     There are many of these professors of Christianity, who in reality have never been born again. They continue to live their lives for their own selfish pleasures, while claiming to know Christ. Sadly, they are deceived, and are blindly heading toward an eternity without Christ.
     This verse tells us that God knows who are His. It is not enough to think that we are His, what is important is that He knows we are His, because what we believe about our Christianity does count for anything if we have deceived ourselves into believing we are saved. God knows our hearts, and He knows who is saved and who is not.
     This verse also shows us that turning from our sin is a foundational part of our salvation. Contrary to popular belief, we cannot presume upon God's grace while we have no desire to give up our sinful lives in exchange for the new life we can find in Christ. As it says in Hebrews, if we continue to willfully sin after coming to the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:26-27).
     Do not be deceived about your salvation. Make sure that you are truly born again! Repent of your sin, and give your life to Christ, to live for Him! He knows those who are His; those who have truly given up their sin, and now live to follow Him.