“My life is an example to many, because You have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising You; I declare Your glory all day long. And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.” (Psalm 71:7-9 NLT)
These words of David stir in my heart as the frailty of life becomes ever more present to me with each passing day. The irony is that thoughts of our mortality should concern us when we’re young, but too often there are other pressing concerns forcing themselves to the forefront of our consciousness.
Why is that? Could it be the lie of Satan that “we have our whole life ahead of us?” Often that’s the case, but there are many factors that can change that “dream” in a heartbeat. I’m reminded of Edward Panosian’s words: “When a man knows he may breakfast on earth and take supper in heaven, temptations must lose much of their power.”
On average, about 180,000 people die on planet earth every day, most, without a saving knowledge of Jesus. “If they’d only known” is the resounding echo of my heart and mind when I hear of someone who dies without a relationship with Jesus. How do I know that detail about their life? Obviously, I don’t know in every case, but when someone I know breathes their last, I usually have a pretty good sense which direction they’re headed when they die.
It’s not as subjective as one might be tempted to think. John writes in 1 John 5:11-12: “And this is what God has testified; He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” It’s not pious thoughts, holding to religious standards, living a good life, trusting karma or perceiving the right “energy” that gets us to heaven, it’s Jesus – ONLY Jesus.
Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” It’s so simple, yet we stumble over its simplicity. There are two dimensions to our relationship with Jesus – we receive Him, but He also receives us. Christ resides in us in the Person of His Holy Spirit, but we also reside in Him.
In 1 Corinthians 2:12 Paul writes: “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” The Spirit is our teacher, guide, informer, protector, in short, the fullness of God present in our lives. But Paul also writes in Colossians 3:3: “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Jesus isn’t our proverbial “rabbit’s foot” that we hold onto “just in case.” He’s not our back-up plan in case what we’re doing doesn’t work out. He’s our all or nothing; He’s our Rock upon whom we stand; He’s our life without whom we would not exist or survive; He’s the One in whom we’ve placed all our hopes for an eternity with God in heaven.
Some may ask: “How can I know for sure I’m saved? That I’m in a right relationship with Jesus? That I am His and He is mine?” On some levels that’s like asking me if I’m married. I can lift my left hand and let you look at the ring on my finger that points to December 18, 1993, the day we exchanged vows. But more than that I can introduce you to my wife – she’s real, she’s alive, she remains the love of my life.
This is too rich to not pursue. Let’s look more closely at how we can know we’re saved in tomorrow’s post.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 