Salvation

Photo courtesy of Steven Xiong Photos

If you’ve read some of my early posts, you know that I grew up going to church. I remember going from age of 5 until I was about 12. It was not the best experience I had, but I believe that my mother bringing me to church planted many seeds of faith, and it has definitely influenced the faith I have today. Proverbs 22:6 says, start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Her faithfulness in prayer and attending church was a great model that I learned and now practice today.

At that age, I don’t remember being asked if I accepted Christ or if he was my Savior, but I believed that he was. I believed that he was born to a virgin, and then he was crucified on the cross for our sins. I knew he was raised from the dead, and going to prepare a place for us in Heaven. That was pretty much all my child-brain could really comprehend. In previous posts, I’ve told you about how I would pray as a young child; however, as a young child, I even had dreams from God. I’d have dreams of Jesus coming back and taking all the believers. He’d take my mother and other people in my family, but there were people in my family that were left behind. I knew these dreams were from God. 2 Peter 3:9 talks about the Lord not wanting anyone to perish, but that all would come to repentance. It was scary to see that those I loved would not go with me to Heaven. As a result, it always prompted me to pray for those people to be saved. I loved my family and wanted all of them to go to Heaven. Even today, I am still praying for them. Some have accepted Christ, but many have not.

Now that I am an adult, I’ve been able to see what being saved really means. My comprehension of salvation is so different from when I was 5. The things I’ve witnessed and my personal encounter with the One True God is overwhelming and undeniable. It’s impossible that I would go back to not believing after all I know and have witnessed. God has done so many great things for me. He’s saved me time after time, all while being patient and merciful. He continues to forgive me of my unpleasing and filthy ways. I want to say that salvation is easy, yet it is so hard. Sometimes (thankfully), God brings us to a place where we must choose. The Bible says life and death are before us, yet we should choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19). Salvation is easy because all you have to do is accept Christ and believe in him. Yet it is hard to let go and to believe in something you cannot physically see. That is why we must have faith, and the bible tells us everyone has been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Just an inkling of belief can help you. When I came back to God in 2010, I believed that God would help my daughter, not me.

If you are at the place where you need to choose, see it as a blessing. The Bible says, that we didn’t choose God, He chose us (John 15:16). God is pursuing you, and his timing is perfect. He has given us more chances than we can ever imagine. You may be feeling a strong urge to give your life over to Christ, yet you are unsure, uncertain, or afraid. Maybe you feel God can’t get you out of this mess, or that you’ve done too much to be forgiven. You could even be uncertain of His true existence. Maybe people who say they are Christians act worse than those who aren’t Christians. I challenge you to begin a personal relationship with Christ, and experience him for yourself. Get to know him for yourself, not based on what I say or what anyone else says. Go directly to him with your questions. He can handle it. He is all knowing anyway. Wisdom, everything comes from him.

When you make this decision, be prepared for a fight. The enemy doesn’t want you to be set free or to be saved. The devil may be lying to you right now telling you everything you’re reading is a bunch of crud. You have the right to choose. What will you do? Things may get worse before they get better and everything in life won’t necessarily be easier, but we will have the Creator of all things on our side. Our Lord has no equal, and no one can withstand Him. If he is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? Begin a relationship with the One who died for you, accept the free gift of salvation, and see the wonders God begins to do in your life. Take the step of faith.

Let us Pray.

Our Father in Heaven,

We praise you God Almighty. You, our everlasting Father. You hold all power, wisdom, and time in your hands. You control the Universe, you are always in control. You know all things, you are always present, and you all powerful. You are mighty to save!

Lord, I thank you for the readers and for you Son Jesus Christ. Right now, we ask that you would forgive us of our sins, for we have sinned against you, more than we can count. Yet, you are merciful and forgiving. Please forgive us of all our sins and help us to forgive those who have hurt us. We believe that you sent your son to earth and that Jesus was born to a virgin, Mary. We believe that Jesus was here on Earth and was crucified over 2000 years ago. We believe that You raised him from the dead on the third day, and that he is now sitting on your right hand. We acknowledge that Jesus died for our sins and that he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4). Thank you for giving us a way out of sin and death, and for preparing a place for us. The gift of Salvation is beautiful and so needed. Today, we choose life. Come into our lives and our hearts. By accepting Christ, we are adopted into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5) and for this, we thank you. All Praise, Honor, Glory, and Dominion is Yours.

In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Prayerfully,

Pam