Pre Approved

Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.”

-Charles Spurgeon

If you’re anything like me, you receive a pre-approval notice in your mailbox or email at least once a month. This notice of pre-approval may be for a credit card, a personal or payday loan, a line of credit, or another source of financing and these notices come whether or not you have any interest in taking out any amount of financing.

Unfortunately, I have been in situations where I needed to take out a payday or personal loan and at the time, was glad for the pre-approval notice. At that period in time, I was thankful for the respective service because it would potentially help me for a short period of time but the pre-approval status only meant that I was selected for further evaluation.

Regardless if I was accepted or not for the service requested is not the point of this article as the pre-approval offer reminds me what God offers to each of us. Crazy? Perhaps, as this is probably a new concept to many reading but before you click away and move on to another activity, think about the offer that God gives to each of us whether we have any interest or not.

Unlike the credit offer presented, God’s offer of salvation is not based on some type of pre-approved application process nor do you have to sign a length promissory note and/or contract stating the terms of the agreement. God offers a relationship that is not based on one’s credit history but the sincerity of one’s heart. God does not gauge your heart based on how much of something you have but rather, simply wants to be a priority.

If you have missed a payment or even several payments, the likelihood of receiving approval status is less unless you accept some type of approval with conditions. For example, many credit card companies offer credit card services for those looking to build credit or with bad credit but such services come with high interest rates and often times, a monthly or annual fee. This may be a good option for those who need a fresh start with money but this is not how God works.

In fact, this is not how God works with those looking for a second or third chance or for the baby Christian. God’s offer for salvation is simple: a real, genuine relationship with the individual believer. Once a person decides they sincerely want to walk with God and give him their life, all they have to do is call upon his name and because there is no application status, the individual is already approved. There is no waiting in line to decide if they are good enough or waiting for days to see what the “system” says.

If our salvation was based on being good enough, none of us would be approved. We are clearly told that only God is good: “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). This is directly from the mouth of God himself so our approval as a child of God has nothing to do with being good enough as we are flawed creatures in a fallen state: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23).

Of course, as one would expect, God does expect us to do our part as any relationship has two parts to it. If one person is not doing their part, the relationship will not last and this is true with God. While our acceptance is not based on how much of something we have or any other conditional requirement(s), we are expected to walk with God. Our walk here below is not easy as every aspect in life has a spiritual element to it and in order to overcome the enemy, we have to be one with God: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

As accepted and saved children of God, we are told to ask for guidance, instruction, and wisdom. Jesus Christ loved us enough to pay a debt that he did not owe for people who could never possibly repay it. Perhaps there are those who say that they did not ask God to pay the debt and while this may be true, without God paying the debt, there is not possible way of becoming spiritually debt free. Without this sacrifice, we would still be slaves to the lender and bankruptcy would not be an option but God’s offer is much greater than any force’s pre-approval notice.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforters, the he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

-John 14:15-17