Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

19 November 2025

Reading From James 1

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

—James 1:13-17

     Scripture is so rich with meaning in every word and phrase that at times as I read through the Bible on this journey with you, I find it difficult to choose just one passage to journal about.  The Book of James presents me with that happy problem.  God has elected not to be control of everything, but His in command of the entire universe.  God is in command, He has chosen not to be in control.  He gives to each human free moral agency, the will to either choose good or evil, light or darkness, blessing or cursing, sin or righteousness, life or death and yet maintains His sovereignty.

     God does not force anyone to choose to do life on their terms and thus play into the devil’s hands, He does not force anyone to do evil, and He does not coerce anyone into healthy, life-giving relationship with Him.  While I do not believe that everything that happens is what God wants or originally intended, I do believe that He weaves His sovereign command, interventions in the world, and human free will all together according to His plan. 

After the Second Coming, resurrection, judgment and Marriage Supper of the Lamb, God’s redemptive and restorative work will be complete with the consummation of human history and individual lives being brought into harmony with Christ under His total authority; all sin and evil vanquished and banished forever; and the New Heaven and the New Earth reflecting His glory, power, and righteousness.

     The passage in James reveals to us another wonderful aspect of God’s character.  He never changes.  Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  He is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting.  He is without beginning and without end.  “There is no variation or shadow due to change.”  He has not evolved to become the God we know and love today.  He has always been and will always be.  His promises are more solid than bedrock and His faithfulness is never-ending.

“Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of our trust, adoration, and worship.  You are worthy of my undivided attention and affection.  I pray that Your people will be led into a deeper understanding of Your truth and that You would show us by Your Spirit how to apply Your Word in our lives.  We love You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.”

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

—Galatians 5:13