This may end up being long, but you NEED to read this. If you've read even so far as up to here, please, dont stop now just because it looks like it might take you all of 5 minutes to read. What's 5 minutes if it gives you eternity? nobody's that selfish or tight on time, and i know you aren't.
Last week in my AP English class we were talking a little bit about salvation (as we were reading The Screwtape Letters) and the subject of "once saved always saved" came up. This is one topic in the believing and unbelieving community alike that raises its share of controversy.
So i decided i'd look into it a little bit and see for myself what some other people think, what i think, and especially what God thinks. So here goes.
I went to different places searching for this stuff online. One place i came to, though, had a really good point that i really do believe. They said Once saved, always saved? Of course, but the question you SHOULD be asking, is "WHEN am i saved?" that got me thinking a little bit. Yes, you can know Christ as your savior, but (sobering statement here) that in itself wont give you eternal life.
And you know, that question fits too. Matthew 7 says "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." You know God personally? (This is bold here, now) That doesnt guarantee you salvation. That's a sobering statement. Even the demons recognize God as Lord over their lives. Just because you call God "Lord" does not mean you are saved. you've gotta get this. This chapter goes on to further say "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'" This further demonstrates the fact that just knowing God and doing what is "christian" doesn't guarantee our salvation. Jesus himself says "only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven". Are you doing his will(what He wants you to do)?
Immediately after saying this, Jesus goes on to say in verse 24:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Dont just listen to what God has to say here, DO IT. Dont let this just be another song that plays over and over in your head while you walk to the beat of a different tune. Put what you hear into practice. And not just this what i'm saying here, EVERYTHING. Listen to those around you who God is speaking through. Your pastors, your teachers, your parents, those in authority over you. It doesnt have to be a Biblical truth for you to listen...if it did, then WHY would God say to obey those he has placed in authority over you?
but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments(Matt. 19:17)
THE commandments. Does it say which? hmm....nope. doesnt really specify does it. know what that means? It's all of them. Every last commandment that comes from the mouth of Yahweh is ours to follow. But you know what? It's for our own good.
Dueteronomy 10:12,13 says "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"
Dont you see? Too many times we think of following God's commandments and we get discouraged and that's where we fall away. We think "I cant do all of those, i might as well just not do any and not worry about it while doing what i want. Who needs rules? i make my own. I live my own life." When in actuality we're only setting up a hot place in the depths for ourselves. The Lord wants what is best for you, and that is to do his will, keep his commands, love him, accept him as your savior and eventually to be with him in heaven.
Sometimes i think society is the way it is today (christian society i mean. what with all it's loss of spiritual fervor and fakes) because we hear too many unsobering messages. We hear so many "feel-good" messages that we think "if i can just make myself feel good after this message then i must be going to heaven" while not changing a single thing in our lifestyle. Well guess what world, we NEED sobering messages. I'm not talking about turn or burn stuff, that's ridiculous. What i AM talking about, though, is opening up peoples' eyes to the reality of life. It's keeping the Lord's commands or facing eternity in hell. that's it. there's no inbetween. It just seems like NOBODY realizes that anymore! and it should scare those who DO follow God's commands because they should know that they wont be seeing these people in heaven.
"Christianity" is sad today. We call ourselves christians but we dont do anything. We're supposed to follow God's commands, right? And one of his commands is to bring others TO him. A lot of times we think of God's commands as commands on "how to live my life and not sin" when in reality it's so much more than that.
I dont know how to end this.....i guess just by saying PLEASE. Please listen to what you've heard here. Please put it into practice. Please read it again. Please make sure you havent missed any thoughts or ideas. Please dont let this go in one ear and out the other. I pray for every one of you who reads this that you take it to heart and think about it and actually do what the word of God says and put it into practice, and as you do, you WILL be Blessed.
Be Blessed,
~Caleb
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