Knowing the ways of God is such a mystery to man. We can read His precious Word, standing in awe of the very fact that He gave it to mankind! Can any other book make such a claim? Did any other god give his people his written word, written by the very finger of God?
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
God speaks to us through His Word; however, He also directs our paths through various ways: another person’s words or actions, a dream, circumstances, nature. His Spirit dwells in believer’s hearts and also moves among us, (John 3:8) in ways we cannot see.
It is 4:45 A.M., not my usual waking hour! I was awakened by a dream and thoughts of my teen years—thoughts I would just as soon forget. Why did I dream them? Where did these thoughts come from? I certainly didn’t wish for them; however, God used them to remind me once again of my salvation. I cannot give you an exact date of my salvation, only the details and approximate times. Once again, I took a moment to read the Gospel tract which I read so long ago alone in my bedroom, and what a joy it was to me–a blessed reminder of the best day of my life!
Today, the word “Christian” is proclaimed by so many, but I wonder how many “Christians” would find themselves in hell, if death knocked on their door this day.
Last week at the National Prayer Breakfast (February 5th), Darrell Waltrip gave a clear testimony of salvation. What a thrill to hear this man clearly testify:
- That his past had been filled with arrogance and self-seeking fame. Several times, he expressed his difficulty in even sharing these facts, ashamed of his actions.
- That there was a point in time when he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ
- That the testimony of his wife was a constant draw and conviction in his life
- That he is a changed man
I had never hear of Darrell Waltrip before last week—we’re really not into NASCAR; but after hearing him speak, listening to him openly share his heart, describing himself as he was and then watching a totally different man as he now is, I was once again challenged: Why are there so many Christians whose lives have not changed?
One possible answer: believing vs. receiving. In my own life, I can look back and say, “That’s when it all changed.” Before I was saved, I believed and went to church faithfully, but my life did not reflect Christ, it reflected me!
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name, John 1:12
I love this verse! For years I missed it, but look how it reads. The ending phrase says it all: YOU CAN BELIEVE AND NOT RECEIVE.
If you have cancer, and your doctor has a miracle pill that has been proven to completely cure cancer—you can believe in that pill all you want, but until you put it in your mouth and swallow it, the cancer will kill you.
Receiving is an act of the will, it is a choice. It is an act of surrendering all to Jesus. Anything else that I am clinging to must be dropped. Our president says that he is a Christian by choice. I’m not sure what that means, but I do know that you can’t embrace both Islam and Christianity. Many American Christians are just like the lost of other lands. The missionary presents Christ and they accept Him freely, placing Him on their god shelf beside all their other gods. It doesn’t work that way!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Jesus said it, not me. If you have any doubts about your salvation, I’d urge you to read God’s Simple Plan of Salvation. There are many tracts out there, but this one is dear to my heart because by reading it, I became a real Christian!
Beyond Common Sense 