In the reading from 2 Timothy chapter 2, verses 8-10, we read:
"This is the Good News I preach, and I am suffering because of it to the point of being bound with chains like a criminal. (These are Paul's words, you may want to go to this chapter in 2 Tim and read the whole chapter). But God's teaching is not in chains. So I patiently accept all these troubles so that those whom God has chosen can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With that salvation comes glory that never ends!"
What is salvation? In the Reader's Digest Great Encyclopedia dictionary it says "The process or state of being saved; preservation from impending evil. Deliverance from sin and penalty". So, salvation means we are saved. Saved from what? Saved from the evil that is in the world! Saved from our sin and the penalty of our sin. Saved FOR the glory of God. Saved from an eternity in hell, saved for an eternity in heaven! It is VICTORY!!!
Sometimes life doesn't seem fair, does it? Have you ever wondered why good people have to hurt? Why the innocent suffer? Often it seems that those who have been most battered by life seem to understand Jesus best, and His assurance finds its way into the darkest corners of life, because regardless of our circumstances, God meets our needs. By surrendering to Him, the ultimate victory is ours.
What is unique about the kingdom of God is that you are assured of victory. You have won! You are assured that you will someday stand before the face of God and see the King of Kings. You are assured that someday you will enter a world where there will be no more pain, no more tears, no more sorrow.
If you have no faith in the future, then you have no power in the present. If you have no faith in the life beyond this life, then your present life is going to be powerless. But if you believe in the future and are assured of victory, then there should be a dance in your step and a smile on your face.
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallow'ed be Thy name
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done . . . .
11 comments:
How blessed believers are, to have the promise of salvation. The promise of a serene after-life. The promise of a Heavenly Father who loves us from before our conception and through all eternity. Does it get any better than that?
I have a song in my heart because I have the security of Christ living in me. What I like is that salvation is immutable. Once saved forever saved. Sure, I am going to make miss steps becasue well, once a sinner always a sinner. That is the the best thing of all. Jesus love me anyway and built a bridge to God with his own body. All I ever had to do was cross it. Praise God we all have that choice.
The "once saved, always saved" message has been misunderstood over time. You are always saved IF you continue to walk in God's ways. Jesus did tell us that if you have known God and been filled with the Holy Spirit, then choose to deny him at some point in your life and don't turn back to Him, you will be denied access to Heaven. Because we are all sinners, as Michelle points out, we willl slip and fall; but God stands ready to forgive and welcome us back once we turn around and ask Him. OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!
These comments lead into the next one: "Grace"!
P. S. Thank you for your comments here, Sharon and Michelle. So good and so wise! I hope others will join in, too. Maybe we could share our stories of "being saved", or finding "Life in the Spirit".
I'll share my story. Some may think I'm whacked, but I'm saved!!
I made a Cursillo in 1977 or '78. The second evening, I went in with a small group to the Chapel and we knelt at the alter and prayed. We took a crucifix to use as a symbol of Christ among us, and passed it from one to another and spoke directly to Christ. I told Him several things and began to cry and ended with "It is dark here in my world." Suddenly, I heard the whistle of a wind and a bright, indescribable light came from
the right (I actually saw it parting the darkness) and slammed into my chest so hard it knocked me over. I was aware of voices praying over me, but I was so much more aware of this wonderful infilling of peace and love. I stood up knowing that, no matter what happened in my life, it was going to work out okay. It was several years before I understood that I had been very powerfully baptized in the Spirit and slain in the Spirit. But I really didn't have to understand that to KNOW that Jesus loved me and would be with me always.
Now, I have been a back-slider many times in my life, and there have been times when things got so rough that I questioned where God had gone and why He had abandoned me. He never abandoned me. He was always with me, I just got so mired down in the problems that I fogged my own view!
Probably the most important thing that I have learned over my life is that I have to read God's Word (The Bible). We cannot come to fully know God if we do not read the Bible. The Bible tells us of His faithfullness, His promises, His unconditional love, His forgiveness, His understanding, His instructions for a fruitful life, His expectations of His children (US) and so much more. And don't rely on someone else to read the Bible for you and give you their interpretation. Yes, by al means discuss and read the Bible WITH other Christians, but do read it yourself in a quiet place. Dedicate some time each day. God has a very special message in those pages JUST FOR YOU.
Wow, Sharon! What a powerful witness of the power of God in your life! I had never heard this story before. Thank you so much for sharing it here. Do you know that I have never been slain in the spirit? At least not while standing. I think I'm too afraid of it. People have described what they experience during it just as you described it here.
I was working as the production scheduler at AEPS. All of the men in the shop really hated having me assigning their work everyday. My boss was rotten. I had so much stress. Then I blew a disc in my back. I was ready to go back to work after 3 months, but AEPS kept dragging their heals. Finally I went down to the plant. The discussion with my then boss and my current boss made it very clear to me that they did not want me back there. And when I went out into the shop to visit some of the guys, there were three of them who told me that "they" were going to let me come back to work so they could fire me. I knew it was true. I was falling behind on bills, feeling totally rejected, my back hurt and I was lonely. So I was crying when I heard a voice - yes and audible voice - that said "your troubles are nothing". Now I don't believe he meant "nothing" like in "don't matter". I believe it was God who was talking to me (no I am not crazy). I think he meant "watch what I am going to do". Because right after that sentence was spoken, I had an incredible peace come into my life. I got my job back. I blew everyone out of the water to the point that I was being sent to other facilities to train people to do my job. My then boss never stopped being a jerk, in fact the more recognition I got, the worse he got. But in the end, when I moved out of the production scheduler position, all of the men were sad to see me leave. And for the first couple years after I left that position, they and my old boss would tell me how much they missed me because I was good! God worked an amazing miracle in my life - inside and outside of my person. I am secure in my salvation. Oh and as an aside my current boss was my old supervisor's boss. The day I went down to the plant my boss, Steve, said to me "this is not your job, it is a job we allow you to do. We can stop allowing you to do it." Less than one year after that Steve sent me an e-mail that I still have that said "Have I told you that your are solid gold? I wish there was a way to clone you. You are the best production scheduler in the history of this company." God is good.
Oh, that incident where i believe i heard the voice of God occurred during the same month I prayed the sinners prayer of repentance with Rev. McMath. So that is why I associate that experience with my salvation. Probably unrelated but not in my mind.
I'd say those two incidents are VERY much related, Michelle.
I have often wanted to know about what happened with you Michelle when your life turned around...thanks for sharing. Mom and Michelle, I have never heard either one of these testimonies before. I am so glad that I know, I believe and I do not nor would I ever think either one of you were whacked or crazy. Lonnie, this is such a wonderful BLOG. I will find time to visit here often! Thanks for giving me a way to get to know GOD and the bible better!!!!
I love you!
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