Jude 1:3-4
Dearly loved friends, I had been planning
to write you some thoughts about the salvation God has given us, but
now I find I must write of something else instead, urging you to stoutly
defend the truth that God gave once for all to his people to keep
without change through the years. I say this because some godless
teachers have wormed their way in among you, saying that after we become
Christians we can do just as we like without fear of God’s punishment.
The fate of such people was written long ago, for they have turned
against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
I often hear some form of
this question …”If God loves me, and I am now saved by the blood of
Jesus Christ, why on earth would He ever let anything ‘bad’ happen to
me?” The query is understandable, and the short answer is that God does
love us…and we Christians are His forever – ultimately “safe from all
harm.” But God is still our Heavenly Father – and as
such, He corrects us when we get in the weeds. He reins us in…and
sometimes, to protect us from ourselves – or from the snares of the
devil and any harm that we might cause others – God takes us out…maybe
even LITERALLY! Often, those seemingly “bad” things that God allows to
happen may minister to others…possibly in a way that we will never see
for ourselves. But God uses us - and these events - to serve His
purpose, all the same.
I don’t say this to scare anyone – or to
turn you away from God. Too many folks claim they cannot serve a God
who “lets bad things happen to good people.” And maybe you don’t want
to be a “martyr” for Jesus. (Do you see the irony here?!) But I tell
you this to explain that we cannot give our hearts to Jesus and then
expect to go on our merry way - doing as we please – and counting on God
to pat us on the head, smile and say…“It’s all good!”
I know
this is a hard concept to grasp, but when we accept Salvation through
Jesus – freely given, freely received – God promises to care, protect
and bless us according to His will…for all Eternity. This is
binding…God will not renege on this promise! Salvation does not come
with conditions, per se…but it should come with a willing
obligation on our part to please God. We should desire to love Him,
serve Him in all things, and represent the love and teachings of Jesus
at every turn. This should not be done out of fear of retaliation…but
out of a tremendous love and respect for The One who gave EVERYTHING –
and then some – for us and our sins.
As this scripture passage
indicates, there will be plenty of people who think giving their heart
to Jesus is the “Golden Ticket”…to heaven - and to do as they please in
the meantime. You and I know better…don’t we? When you get to a point
where you truly know God and walk in His will and ways, you better
understand His purposes. I don’t know about you, but the more I see His
perfect orchestration of all events…good AND bad…and how He weaves
everything together so beautifully, the more I want to be a part of His
endeavors (and the less I care about the “old me!”).
I’m
reminded once again of the little boy at Timothy’s kindergarten “Water
Day” who was standing in line for the water slides…wearing his
swimsuit…and dry as a bone. He declared that “water is really not my
thing” as he continually moved to the back of the line. He had a
“ticket to ride”…but he never cashed it. What about you? Where do you
land in relationship to God and Salvation through Jesus? Are you “all
in”…or have you “purchased the ticket” and stepped to the back of the
line? Isn’t it time you “got wet” and enjoyed all that God has to offer
by accepting His commission on your life? Will this be the day that
you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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