Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other
Oh what hope we have when we take heed to such a command, such a plea, such an invitation. When we lose sight of our filthy righteousness (Isaiah 64:6) and do away with works (Ephesians 8:9-10) to save ourselves but rather look unto Christ and him alone. When we realize that every failure shows us our need of a savior in a greater depth and all we are left to do is turn to Christ then we will know true freedom (John 8:36,Galations 5:1). The reality is becoming greater and greater that it isn't what I do or don't do that saves my soul Romans 3). Instead it is the perfect life Christ live, his faithfulness unto the point of death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection from that tomb to sit at the right hand of the father as king of kings and lord of lords. That is why I am saved, that is why I can hope and trust that the work he has began in me he will finish (Philippians 1:6)
Though i doubt, though I fall short, though I fail, there has been a change in my heart that longs for Christ, longs for holiness, longs for righteousness, long to do his will, long to cry out his name, long to know him, long to be with him, long to worship him and make his name great, and it is because of him I live and breathe every breath. I am new creation in christ and it is impossible not to be when any man is in christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) . I am thankful beyond expression that the lord draws me to repentance when I fall and as a just man that may fall 7 times, I get back up and I continue on in faith, picking up my cross and clinging to Christ ( Proverbs 24:16). The enemy is cunning yet he is a fool to think he can snatch gods elect ( John 10:28-29, romans 8, john 6:37). Our king has resurrected and overcome sin and death, eternal life is in his hands.
Keep me oh lord for you are the author and perfecter of my faith (hebrews 12:2). You are my shield, my rock, my fortress, my refuge, my strong tower, my builder, my watchman, my lord, my savior, my master, my king, my friend, my bridegroom, my father, my sustainer, my judge, my strength, my love, my comforter,my prince of peace, my author, my perfector, my gracious Shepard. You are everything!
I can't deny that I am a man who battles heavily with doubt in regards to salvation. There is a constant battle waging war against me designed by satan so that ill abandon Christ! I even at times find my heart trembling when I meditate on the passage in Matthew 7 where Christ declares
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
I say to myself lord will I hear these very words when I stand before you? The enemy clearly says "yes because you don't belong to God and you never have even when you were sure of it. You belong to the kingdom of darkness, look at what you just did and true Christians don't doubt! " On the other hand it is as though lord gently says "examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith! Have not the result of your faith been the fruit of Christ? Have not I been the very sustenance of your life? Have I not disciplined you? Have I not shown my hand on your behalf? Have my love ever separated us? Have I not drawn you unto myself? Have you not been broken and contrite over sin? Have you not delighted in my statutes and my way? Have you not grown in a hatred for sin and love for holiness? Are not these all a result of my spirit in you? Surely you belong to this kingdom and you are mine. " Oh the beauty of preaching the gospel to yourself!
When I fall into sin I am convicted and brought to repentance but shortly after I am hit with darts of condemnation and I begin to question the assurance I once was so sure of. After examining my heart I say confidently I am saved yet, that doubt lurks. My heart has been tried and my mind has been filled with every type of lie that man could imagine and I have tried on my own strength to deal with such things but I am proud to boast in that our lord our god our savior is mighty to save and mighty to deliver and he is faithful to crush the schemes of the enemy on our behalf because he is jealous for his bride and he loves us unconditionally. Raise your banner for this king, exalt this king, bow to this king, praise this king, glorify this king, boast in this king, be unashamed of this king, for he is worthy of all paise, honor and glory.
Woo go hard saints, Christ is worth it!
