Since I came to know God years ago, I have had a personal relationship with Him where I hear Him speak to me and try to obey. When I was young I knew I loved Him and I always felt He was there but I can't ever remember Him speaking to me with that still small voice. But I actually think it was me not listening! I don't like the "once saved always saved idea". It does not make sense to me but I do know that once you come to know Christ in an intimate way, His voice becomes so evident IF you listen and get to know Him. Because of that I know that I am saved and where I will be spending eternity.
Now, is that based on all of my works that I do here on earth? If I am "busy" enough serving Him and praying and reading my bible enough, and all kinds of other lists, I will go to heaven? No! The only way I am saved is by His blood. Yes, it is my decision to surrender and obey, but NOTHING I do will save me!
1 Peter 1:18-19~ Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Yes, there are definitely things I will WANT to do because I desire to please Him but my salvation is not based on those things. I have had times in my life where God has spoken to me to go and tell someone that Christ loves them and that they are not alone. He has spoken to me and told me to give all that I have to a lady I did not know including my FAVORITE bible! We did not have much and I only had $40 in my bank account but at that time, that was A LOT because it was all we had! I had a hard time with that one and God gently spoke to me that I should put my trust in Him and He would reward me 100 fold. Well, I did obey, (not so I would be rewarded, God just knew that I needed that reassurance). So after talking to my husband about it, we took the money out of our account and gave my favorite bible to this lady and months later after forgetting about being rewarded, my husband got a job with EXACTLY 100 times more that what I gave to her. $4000 more then our previous income!! God does want what is best for us and I am convinced that if we would ask Him more, our lives would turn out way better then they are without asking Him!
The enemy, Satan is so occupied with trying to keep us from hearing God that we get so "busy" we don't even take time to listen! That is his goal! If we are busy, we can't hear. If we can't hear, we can't obey. If we are not obeying, our lives will be a mess and our spirit will be empty searching for peace with things that cannot satisfy! So, why do we settle for the world, when we can have peace and joy and have it abundantly? We are just trying to do it on our own.
I have lost things before and will say a simple prayer and ask God to help me find it. Within minutes, I usually have it in my hand. I have been 9 months pregnant and ask God on the way to the store to please help me find a close parking space. A car will be backing up at the time I drive in the lot! I am not saying we treat God as a good luck charm or a musician to get what we want. What I am saying is that He DOES care about the little things and the big things in our life because He cares about us! It says in the bible, "we have not because we ask not." It also says to, "pray without ceasing". So that tells me that God desires us to bring all that we have and all that we are to Him! I always tell my children that we are all one choice away from going the wrong direction and our eternity could be in jeopardy! However, if we are listening to that voice, and He does promise His sheep will KNOW His voice, then we will be living our life for Him and although we will make mistakes, He is merciful and knows our hearts. Sin is NOT our problem! It is our lack of relationship with Him and the absence of listening to Him that causes us to suffer! I get so tired of hearing about how sin is destroying our lives! Although sin does destroy us, it is because of lack of Jesus in our lives that sin is a problem! We need to hear of what relationship with Him does to us and how to listen to His voice! Not that we will NEVER sin because we allow Jesus in our hearts, but sin will not overtake us if we are turning to Him and following His voice.
God, please allow me to follow and listen to your voice! Thank you for not giving me a list of rules that I have to do to be saved but saving me by your precious blood! Help me to realize daily that it is not sin that is my problem but the absence of you in my life that causes me pain! May I always allow you to radiate through me by loving others the way that you love and others will see you in me!! Thank you for being a perfect shepherd and the privilege of being your sheep! Amen!
