All in Salvation
Are you living an exemplary life of faith, and do you take pride in this? Do you look down on those who are less perfect, and lord over them in piety? Let me ask you one question... at what point has Jesus made you feel like less? As He walks with you, a sinner, He doesn’t talk down to you, or gloat about His perfection, He speaks to you with His arm around your shoulder, or while sitting at your table; so who are we to elevate ourselves?
Do you wake up every morning feeling like you are trapped in a dying body, a body steeped in death? How is it that a war so violently rages within you between the spiritual within and the physical that is without? You are not alone in this conflict between righteousness and sin, but there is assurance of your victory in Jesus. Do not feel like a prisoner of the world when our savior Jesus Christ has set all captives free.
Are you confident that you are saved? Do you walk towards that moment when you will face judgement without hesitation in your step, or falling to the ground in the midst of an anxiety attack? If we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then the grace of God will flow through Him, and without our having earned the right to our own salvation we will be saved... not by anything we have done, but simply by our faith in Jesus, and the mercy and grace of God Himself.
Why is it that we go to our knees at the altar before God? Why do we call out the name of Jesus and go down in the waters of baptism as He did? Do we truly believe, or do we come here out of a fear of what lies ahead? Maybe we think it is safe to purchase a ticket just in case this God stuff is all true? Ask yourself my friend; “Why do I come, or why did I come?” If it is for any reason other than true belief then you had better seek Him more diligently because He knows your heart.
We concentrate on all the things we give up to become righteous, and wallow in statements of sacrifice, but by doing so it is like reading the story of Pinocchio, and never acknowledging that in the end he became a real boy. In pursuing our faith so many of us attempt to eternally strap ourselves to the disappointment in our fallen lives, and miss the amazing and glorious ending that has been won for us by grace through Jesus. Who are you, the sad wooden puppet, or the vibrant and joyful boy?
We live during the day in the light of the sun, and at night we endure the darkness, but do we walk in the spiritual light of Jesus Christ, and do we separate ourselves from the darkness that is not of Him? How do these two sources of light, the physical and the spiritual, differ in our lives?
Do you make intercession for your family? Do you pray for your wife, your children, your parents, and others in your house? Sometimes we think that we are only responsible for our own salvation, and only have the power to save ourselves, but in fact we have the ability, and even the obligation, to lift up our family before God.
There are two parts to spiritual salvation, and there are two parts to the salvation of countries, churches, and peoples. The first part changes who we are, and the second part fills us with God’s essence. We find Jesus Christ who renews us, and then we receive the Holy Spirit which is the understanding of God. Do you have both? Is your country prepared to be fixed and restored to God?
Do you believe that you have discovered Jesus Christ based on some historical writings and empirical evidence? In fact your journey to Him has been carefully orchestrated by God the Father who has called you to Himself and His Son. You have been called, and drawn to Jesus by God, but once you find yourself at the door it is up to you to knock.
You confessed your sins, accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, and were baptized. You felt the joy of that moment of great faith and salvation as it ripples through you and lifted you high, but what have you done in the months and years since? What place Has your faith taken in your life; has it fallen to second place, third place, or further than that? To Jesus you are still as important and loved as the moment you first believed... can you say the same about Him?
Are you born again in the hope and resurrection of Jesus Christ? If so do you go through periods when you are vexed by suffering and calamity in your life? Does this cause you to confront your faith, and if so does it challenge it, or strengthen it? Many of us seem to believe that when Jesus steps into our lives we cease to feel the pain and suffering of living in the natural world, but is that really the promise?
Concerning your salvation, are you meeting God half way? He has sent His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for you, thus securing your redemption, but do you come to Him? In what condition is your faith today, and are you honoring Jesus? In as much as God has, and is, doing His part in repairing the relationship that was broken by Adam.. we must do ours. We must guard our gift of grace with our faith. This is our agreement in the contract which binds the relationship, and eternal promise we have made with God. This is our marriage covenant with Christ.
When someone is baptized, and the Holy Spirit comes over them, three things occur within them. They are given gifts, a calling(s), and they will begin to behave in a new and wonderful way. Gifts, service, and activities, these identify them, and set them apart, on a course that God has willed for them even before their feet became wet in the waters of baptism, or they took their first breath as a child of God.
The rift that was formed between God, and man when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has been closed for us. Jesus gave himself in sacrifice to make that happen. What an incredible gift of grace we have received, a gift of forgiveness, and yet we are like a children who have been given a gift but refuses to play with it because we can’t believe it is ours. It is time that we opened the present which has been handed to us, and thrill at its contents.
Have you received an invitation to a grand and magnificent party? Have you sent the RSVP indicating that you will be attending? Perhaps you are hesitating because you don’t feel that you have anything to wear; maybe the splendor of it makes you worry that you will be out of place, or perhaps you have convinced yourself that you are too busy... or even above it! God has extended us an invitation to the grand wedding celebration of His Son, and His conquest over sin and death... how will you respond?