Godly Salvation: Do Not Overlook It!!!

One of the best things in life that we all should do is take time to enjoy the creations of our Lord. Maybe it’s the sunrise or the sunset, a cool breeze on a warm summer day, the blooming of the flowers or the way nature interacts with us but whatever it is, God is on full display for us all to see. The problem is, too often, not nature or the creations around us but our ways and interactions with one another.

There have always been societal problems and there will be trouble from human beings but they have only gotten worse over the last half-century and it’s not just in the United States. As time moves on, though, the problem is magnetized and the rebellion against Christianity; more so, against Christians, becomes a larger battle as Christians are targeted for their beliefs and convictions. This is the case in America and across the world and while we are not yet jailed in America, Christians all around the world are jailed for their belief in Christ. Sadly, some are even killed for their obedience and loyalty to Christ.

The older I grow, the more I realize that much of the world hates the name Jesus Christ. My question is why? How could a man that brought so much good into the world and taught of peace, love, and wellbeing to one another be hated so greatly? What was His main crime? Although there has not been a justifiable answer, the more I read and study God’s word, the more that I see that it has always been this way since the beginning of time.

It’s ironic when we think about it as God’s very own creation; the very one He made to live in perfect harmony, rebelled against Him because of envy and jealousy and it first occurred with the Devil himself; Lucifer, or Satan as God had to cast him out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:15). While this was a very long time ago, the same patterns still repeat today. In fact, I have often said thought the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist.

When I turn on the news or open my computer, there are stories about murder and robbery and a few obituaries where another young person’s life was taken too soon due to drugs or some other illegal activity. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, Satan tempted the two by becoming different objects and appealing to their desires (Genesis 3) and the same is still true today (2 Corinthians 11:4; 11:14). Satan may not come at you like a snake but he knows your desires and interests and comes at you not with horns and fire but smelling like roses.

One of the biggest mistakes that I see many people make is overlooking salvation. Too often I hear people say “I’m saved” but their actions make you question their salvation. Granted, none of us know one another’s heart which is why God tells us to not judge one another (Matthew 7:1-3) but our actions our a gateway to our soul and heart and our actions reveal our character. Often times, our actions reveal to us, and the world, what our treasure is and as the Bible reads, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

When I see the way people act and treat one another, I cannot help but think that our priorities are all wrong. Our treasure; the place where our hearts are, is wrong including the concept and idea of salvation as many people do not think of salvation. Instead, they believe salvation is something they can buy and Heaven has a reservation. While Heaven may have a reservation, it’s not just for anyone but rather, for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and those who do their best to live for Him in obedience and through faithfulness (Romans 10:9-10).

When we accept Jesus Christ and live for Him, we become new and the old is gone (2 Corinthians 5:17). No, this does not mean that we are suddenly transformed into a perfect, sinless being but rather, we have decided to follow Jesus and make Him our priority. The old me is gone but this does not mean that the old ways that I; that we, held onto for so long will suddenly be gone. No, as nowhere does the Bible say that we will not be tempted but rather, that we have the power to overcome them and it begins with Christ.

Jesus Himself was tempted but He never gave in. Jesus said “for it is written” (Matthew 4:4; 4:10) as He accepted His father and trusted in His word. Jesus made God His priority which is something that many of us fail to do. No, I cannot say that I have always put God first which is where so many of my mistakes came from but when I finally did start prioritizing God, I started to see change. When I started to put God first, my attitude changed but more so, my heart.

My heart was in the right place and by my actions; my heart, people could see that my treasure was in God Himself. Sadly, like many others, I wanted my actions and deeds to get myself into Heaven and to win salvation but our deeds do not get us Home. Only the heart and true acceptance and belief of Jesus Christ will get us Home (Galatians 3:26-27) as money and deeds will be left below. As the Bible says, it is done by faith and acceptance rather than our actions and works as salvation is not about self-centered around us but rather, centered around Jesus Himself (John 14:6).