My heart pounded and my mouth went dry. In fifteen minutes I’d be singing a group of art songs in front of the faculty jury.

It was the end of my sophomore year at Oberlin College Conservatory. I always got nervous before a performance. They say it’s good to be a little nervous. Not too much. Just enough to give you the adrenaline to empower your body to do wonderful and creative things. Like sing a perfect high C.

In the beginning of my junior year I discovered that some of my musician friends were no longer students at my college. I was pretty naive back then. So I asked a prof, and he told me that the purpose of the sophomore juries was to see if a singer or instrumentalist had what it takes to continue studies in the conservatory.

Oh.

Good thing I hadn’t known back at the sophomore jury just how serious my performance was. I think I would have been trembling with fear.

Many years later I haven’t forgotten that jury experience. Our experiences in the world frequently involve being selected…or being de-selected for a job, a position in an organization, a contest, a submission for publication, etc.

And even if you’ve been selected, there’s no guarantee you won’t face some sort of cut later on.

Not so in the Kingdom of heaven, praise God.

One you’re in, you’re in.

Not because of what you do or do not do. But simply because of the One who has chosen you and ushered you into His Kingdom.

He will never cut you out.

Isn’t that cause for great rejoicing? And for great peace.

Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord!

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1: 13-14 NIV Bible)