Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 09 March 2022 12:59

Understanding Salvation
by Terry Broome

Salvation is the most needed subject we could ever address. It’s true there are many things we need salvation from. Right now Americans are praying for salvation from terrorism, possibility of economic collapse and many other such categories that are very relevant. We do, in fact, need deliverance from these. The salvation that too few focus on and which is needed far more than all the above combined is the salvation of one’s soul for eternity.
In teaching young teenagers in years gone by, I’ve asked them the question, “Is salvation the most important thing on your mind?” Many truthfully answered that it was not, and most agreed that this was a subject they would think about in later years. I’m quite sure that if they were lost in a dark cave, salvation in the form of rescue would come crashing to front and center of their attention and deepest desire. Yet salvation isn’t that pressing to many.

It’s not fair to make it sound like only among teenagers can we find those who fail to grasp the seriousness of the subject. Without trying to judge one’s heart, but while still observing the behavior of hosts of adults, I think it safe to say that a large percentage of them act as though they are struggling more with the subject of salvation from the material catastrophes than they give evidence of struggling to find eternal life.

In dealing with individuals over the years, I’ve heard the comment, “I’ve been doing this for thirty years. It’s too late to try and quit now.” Without going into the particular negative habit or practice they were speaking of, think of how tragic it is for anyone to succumb to having some harmful behavior exercise a hold on them for so long that they feel it’s useless to try giving it up now.
On the other hand, I can think of at least two occasions in very recent years where individuals responded to the invitation at a church service to get their lives right with God – one in baptism, the other by being restored back to God’s family. What a joy to hear them saying, “I’ve lived for Satan for thirty years of my life and that’s long enough.” They represented a different point of view. When one comes to realize that salvation is the most needed experience in one’s life, a marvelous transformation can take place.

John D. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars. That’s capital. Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it and make it worth thousands of dollars. That is genius. A mechanic can take materials worth five dollars and make articles worth hundreds of dollars. That is skill. Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it and make it worth twenty dollars. That’s money. An artist can take a few dollars worth of canvas, paint a picture on it and make it worth thousands of dollars. That is art.

God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the blood of the Lamb, his precious Son, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity and a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. THAT IS SALVATION!! Sinner friend, it’s not too late. Jesus is calling you to salvation, deliverance from this world of sin, to a new life. When death ends this life with all its riches and fame, or poverty and tribulation, Jesus wants to take you home with Him to the Father where you can live with Him in Heaven’s splendor for all eternity. Won’t you be saved, today?
The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.