I received this question from one of the servants:

Today, I read the story of “Magdi”; who headed for execution joyfully after his repentance through Fr. Mikhail Ibrahim. Then, I read the story of St. Anthony and his readiness; how he literally applied the Bible verse considering it a personal message to him. I felt myself so little compared to the life of those two great saints and their spiritual effort.

I am not a devoted saint who can resist the wars of Satan, body lusts , and sins. I feel that my prayers are like a sounding brass.

I feel unsure of my salvation, because I do not live like the saints. As a result, my relationship with God is characterized by anxiety rather than joy!

Who guarantees my salvation and my entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven? Who justifies me in front of Him?

Pray for me father; teach me from where should I start? And what is my remedy?

Dear daughter,

Peace of Christ be with you and fill your heart,

+ First, don’t focus on the greatness of the saints’ acts, but rather on the Grace of God which helped their weaknesses. They were weak like us but the Lord strengthened them by the work of His Spirit in their lives.

+ Think always that you are: “IN Christ”. He justified you. Since the day of your baptism, you are member IN His Body and you have received “adoption to son ship”. Sons inherit in the kingdom of their Father.

+ Is it possible that after Christ sacrificed His precious Blood for you, He might neglect your salvation?! Will He give away his effort with you all these years, and leave you perish? You are so precious for him and beloved, He paid a costly price to liberate you from slavery and to purchase you to become His daughter forever. Will He abandon you easily? And if you are seeking him and asking for His salvation, is it possible that He will let you down?
The answer of all these questions is a single word: “Impossible”.

+ Those who perish are the ones who are stubborn and refuse God’s love to them. They resist arrogantly His Holy Spirit’s attempts to rebuke them for the sake of their repentance and to come back to the way of salvation.

+ On the other hand, the meek people who respond to the Spirit reproach to them and repent, confess, and ask for the forgiveness of their sins, God will certainly not let them perish.

+ Here are some encouraging verses, place them before your eyes and recite them frequently:

* "Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant" (Hebrews 7:22)

* "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8 : 32-34)

* "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10: 27-29)

* "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10)

+ As for God’s part, He guarantees our salvation. And on our side, we need to cooperate with Him and be faithful in our spiritual strive; through prayers, searching the Scriptures, partaking of the Holy Sacraments, and anchoring ourselves in the Church which is our rescue ship.

+ We need to thank God always, and rejoice for all His love and care. He has received us we the weak and sinful to be among His little flock. We need to appreciate His great work with us every day.

+ Also, I would like to draw your attention to avoid a wrong way of thinking; which is comparing yourself to others. This is very harmful and disturbing in the spiritual life. Please don’t compare yourself to others. Just take care of the talents given to you, trade in them faithfully as much as you can.

+ Finally, don’t be tough on yourself, just be serious and alert, encourage yourself constantly as you encourage a small kid who needs continuous support.

+ Be assured, you are on the path of Saints, the true path of Salvation.