If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Christians are not saved in order to bide their time waiting for real life to begin in eternity. No, we are to abide here and now in the time that they still have. Eternal life is not on hold. It is found in Christ in this very moment. Abiding is not doing nothing. A white picket fence left to the elements will not remain a white picket fence for very long. If it is to abide, it must often be renewed. It must have new coats of the old white applied in order to stay what it was and become what it was meant to be.
Abiding is holding a consistent course. Christianity is not a set it and forget it kind of life. You cannot follow Christ by staying put. In fact, that is a surefire way to unfollow Him. Perseverance is daily faith over time and abiding is not remaining still, but remaining in step with the lively steps of the living God. So, we must be about abiding our time, not merely biding it. Life is not simply something we wait for, but something we wait upon. We serve the Life by living and dying for Him daily. And we are kept, not by our abiding, but by His. We keep up, because He keeps us. We hold on because we are held.
Philippians 3:12-14
I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word,
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.
Come not in terror, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.
Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee.
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me
- Henry Francis Lyte (1847)
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