Let us continue on our daily journey to perfection
- Bro. M. Geo Prakash
God reveals Himself to
people in certain specific ways according to His gracious will. Many know God
in their difficult times of life. Many people know God when they decide to commit
suicide and attempting it. Some come to know God in the face of chronic
illness, debt, and distress. We may have heard of such witnesses.
Such men claim, "I am
saved." They think this is salvation. But, this is not salvation except
the fact that they have come to know God and have been forgiven of their past
sins. This fact is not understood by many Christians. Though these people say,
"I am saved, I am saved", the truth is that, they practice different
forms of worship from the old ones they had followed until then. "Only he
who endures to the end will be saved" Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:13.
That means we need to stand firm to the end in our holy lives. Salvation does
not happen overnight.
We receive God's
forgiveness for our old sins in one day. But constantly we have to stand the
test of time in the new born-again life. It is important that after we receive
the forgiveness of sins we have to live in harmony with the God we know, to the
end, living according to His will.
Christianity is seen today
as one among the worldly religions by the people. The reason for this is, the
so called redeemed Christians are living a life without any witness. Many, who
claim saved today, do not have even the good qualities of people of other
religions, or people who do not know God. But they are also proclaiming gospel
to others without inheriting any good quality in their personal life.
Most Christians, who claim
that they are saved, focus on church worship and certain devotional activities
and consider it to be the Christian life. Suffice it to say that they see
Christianity as a religion. Every religion has certain rules of worship and
certain rituals to follow. Since many Christians view Christianity as a
religion, they make it a point to formulate and adhere to certain principles.
When we praise a political
leader and cheered, he will be happy. But God is not like world political
leaders; He is the seer of the inner human mind. Therefore, empty hymns and
shouts of allegiance do not make him happy.
God does not look at one's
superficial forms of worship. He will look at the one who trembles at his word.
Trembling means not trembling like in cold, but acting out of fear that we must
obey God's commands; Fear of God and avoid engaging in sinful situations. God
wants us to avoid doing anything that God does not want us to do, regardless of
whether it is a small or a big command.
Saul went out to fight
against the Amalekites. In the process, God told Saul through prophet Samuel to
destroy the Amalekites and their livestock when they were conquered. But when
Saul won the battle, he did not listen to God's words. He kept the quality
sheep and cows alive and destroyed the trivial and useless ones. When Samuel
heard about it, Saul said that he had saved the good of the cattle to be
sacrificed to the Lord God. (1 Samuel 15:15)
In
response Samuel said, Hath the LORD delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams”. (1 Samuel 15:22).
Most of the people who
claim to be Christians are like this today. They are generous and proud in
their offerings, temple work, and donations to the ministry and missionary
work. But the word of God does not work in their lives. Many lack the Christian
qualities of humility, patience, love, and forgiveness.
God wants a change in
lifestyle, not worship. But most pastors do not see these and do not make
realize their believers their mistakes and rectify them. The reason is the fear
that if they make such comments, the tithe that comes from them will be stopped.
“When ye come to appear before me, who hath
required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations;
incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of
assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.” (Isaiah 1:12, 13) says
the Lord GOD.
But God gives the power to
people who really want to live life to the fullest. Because God knows that man
is inherently weak. This is why apostle Paul writes about his weaknesses: -
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I
would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I
would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I
that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to
perform that which is good I find not. ( Romans 7 : 15-18 )
Thus, although everyone
has the desire to do good, we do not do good. For the good that I would I do
not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.( Romans 7 : 19 )." Our
human weakness prevents us from doing good.
The first step to perfect
salvation is to overcome this sinful human weakness. God will help us to overcome
such sins. It was only when we did not know God that we were forgiven of our
sins by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Apostle Paul writes
that we who are thus reconciled are more certain that we will be saved by him.
That is, he mentions that we who have been forgiven of our sins are more
certain of being saved by him.
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled
to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved
by his life”
(Romans 5:10).
“There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
made me free from the law of sin and death.” ( Romans 8 : 1, 2 )
Only if the Spirit of God
dwells in us can we live in this world without sin. Those who live like this
are called the spiritual people. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. ( Romans 8 : 9 )
Therefore, it is necessary
for us to move towards perfection without stopping at the same place saying
"I am saved, I am saved" and repeating the basic Christian teachings.
That perfection is what frees us from the sinful state of mind and leads us
straight to salvation. This is what we read in the Hebrew epistle as follows: -
“Therefore leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying
again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of
the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment.” ( Hebrews 6 :1, 2 )
Yes, let us continue on our daily journey to perfection without dying in sin, thinking salvation was a one-day experience.
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