What do you desire tonight? Is it heavenly things? Do you long for the glorious belief of eternal love? Do you want the freedom to be in close communion with God? Are you aspiring to know the heights, depths, widths and breadths? If so, you must draw near to Jesus; you must get a clear view of Him in his preciousness and completeness; you must view Him in His work, in His offices, and in His person.
Listen, I hear the voice of my beloved. He speaks to me. The weather of spring is shining upon the earth, and He would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is awaking all around me from her winter’s hibernation. He encourages me to “Rise up”, and I’m thankful that a He does, because I had been asleep for a long time while making my bed with that temptress, worldliness. But my beloved, He is risen, and I am now risen with Him, so why should I still cling to the death and the grave and the filth of the great whore of this world? From the depths of worldly love, desires, pursuits, and ambitions, I will rise towards Him.
Oh how foolish a life this old man of flesh lived before I found Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I proved myself doomed to destruction time after time with my choices, with my actions, with my words. In my ignorance, I used the idea of salvation like a trickster, twisting words to fit my own goals – excusing my rebellion and continued sin, wearying the Lord with my foolishness and disobedience.
I knew nothing of Christ. I knew nothing of a renewed life surrendered to the Lord. I just knew the example of hypocrites around me practicing their religion and buying their get out of hell free tickets. But oh, how things have changed.
Comfort and prosperity?
Persecution and trials?
Growth in wisdom and understanding? Satisfaction with what we already know?
God’s will?
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
I remember what wandering around without a purpose felt like – I called it carefree fun and freedom. Now that I realize what real freedom looks like, I laugh at how foolish and naive I was.
PSA 138:8 ESV
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord , endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
How would we know something was cold if we had nothing warm to compare it to?
How would we know what God is like unless He revealed himself in ways that we could grasp?
Gardens.
Yes, for man, it all started in a garden.
And there are many lessons we can learn from God’s revelation through His creation around us. We can find that there are are plants and animals that are good for us to eat, and there are things that are poisonous as well.
And we can learn that things are either alive and growing or dead and rotting.
ZEC 14:9 ESV
And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.
Proverbs 18:10 ESV
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
John 10:28-30 NLT
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.
PERSONAL COMMENTARY
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The question isn’t “Can I lose my salvation?”
It’s “Have I truly received it in the first place?”
We receive Christ into our lives today – in greater and renewed awareness of the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching and comforting us – even moment by moment.
Is Christ alive in my life, not just my words, but in my actions and deeds? How about my thoughts, am I taking them captive and resisting evil even in my thoughts?
There is always room for growth as long as I don’t stop looking for things that need to be repaired/renewed/healed in me. I need to be careful if I am tempted to aim my sword at others instead of focusing it squarely on cutting out the disease from within my own life.
Harold J. Ballinger 