The greatest under-appreciated, under-referenced gift

God is a blesser of many things. He blesses us with grace, which is first and foremost the greatest under-appreciated gift. Seriously. How often do we cheapen grace with the way we act throughout life? Holiness isn't taken seriously in the way it ought to be, the way it is commanded. Yes, we know that grace is the greatest gift and we don't really understand the heights or depths of it, but once we've got it, party on, right?

But no. The greatest under-appreciated AND under-referenced gift is the perfect permanency of salvation. How often do we take for granted what this one convicting line from a puritan prayer says we should not?

I deserve that thy kingdom be taken away from me.

That's a different ballgame right there.

We are often taught as young Christians to know that the grace of salvation is undeserved. We may not understand this, but we know it doctrinally. We also know that salvation is secure:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  I and the Father are one. - John 10:27-30

In fact, salvation is so secure that we completely forget about the cost that was involved and what an appropriate response should be to such a divine exchange.

But that puritan prayer changes everything. Because not only did we not deserve it to begin with, but we also deserve that it be taken from us because of our sin, which manifests every hour of every day.

There is a reason why Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a treasure in a field or a pearl of great price. Our pursuit of subsequent holiness honors that treasure from beginning to end.