The covered bridge pictured on the front cover reminds me of the salvation from earth to eternal glory found alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is "the Door" of entrance; "the Way" to the Father; the "Shelter" from judgment. When one comes to Him by faith, acknowledging himself as a sinner, he enters the Door of salvation (John 10:9) and is safe until reaching the Father's house in heaven (John 14:1-6). He is forever sheltered by the atoning blood that was shed on the cross to make atonement (a covering) for the soul (Leviticus 17:11).

The bridge is all of His making. In fact, Christ Himself is the bridge of salvation for all who come to Him by faith. To step on the bridge is like putting one's trust in Him. Let us look at a few of the many things God says in His Word about those who do so:

1. As the Good Shepherd who died for the sheep, Jesus says, "My sheep [those who believe on Him] hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life, and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and NO MAN IS ABLE TO PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND. I and My Father are one" (John 10:27-30). There could not be a clearer word of assurance of eternal salvation. God says so!

2. Listen to the words of God from the lips of Jesus in that much quoted most precious verse John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH, but HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." The believer has eternal life, which is in the eternal Son of God! God says so!

3. Upon believing the word of truth, the gospel, the believer is "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise…unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30). The seal of the Holy Spirit denotes ownership and security. The day of redemption will take place when He comes to rapture all His own, and give them glorified bodies. See Philippians 3:20,21. God says so!

4. One more: "Beloved, now are we the sons [those born again through faith in the Lord Jesus] of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but WE KNOW that, when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for WE SHALL SEE HIM AS HE IS" (1 John 3:2). This is an unequivocal statement of God concerning all who can say, "I am saved I am a child of God." There is nothing at all conditional in this verse. We who have put our trust in Him will reach the desired end of our journey and be like Him and with Him forever. God says so!

There are many such statements in the Word of God, too numerous to mention in this brief editorial. If these verses do not teach that one who is saved, who by faith gets on the bridge so to speak, shall remain saved until he enters the eternal Home, then words have no clear and certain meaning.

Beyond a doubt, the one saved is eternally saved, for God says so! and He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18).