Every day is sort of a jigsaw puzzle. You have to make sure that you're putting the most important things first.
- Julia Hartz
The whole of Scripture is replete with astounding revelations and opportunities. So much so, it’s easy to embrace any number of the Bibles over 1,000 promises to the partial if not complete exclusion of their corresponding conditions.
This is particularly true in regards to salvation, given the variety of modern Christian sects and denominations offering various versions of Christ and differing gospels. It takes courage to allow the blade of Scripture to cut through the obvious and even subtle forms of pretense and rhetoric. Commitment indispensable in the developing of Scriptural discernment and spiritual sensitivity, both foundational to the integrating of the Bible’s many passages of encouragement and warning.
Religion in general, much less the issue of salvation, can prove difficult to discuss. Subjective, at least in this life, opinions and feelings range across a wide spectrum. Colored by family and friends, hopes and fears, our sense of God is as individual as our sense of self. Additional considerations include secular and sacred worldviews, denominational and church teachings, tradition and family values, devotion and sentimentality, as well as moral and ethical concerns.
To sidestep such challenges, modern Christianity has developed the default position of assuming salvation. In attempts to befriend it’s base and financial supporters, Churchianity has lowered most of the bars of Scriptural accountability. No mean feat, with thousands of commands and conditions permeating the Old and New Testaments. A task accomplished by the pandering of spiritual pleasantries to a generation of practical Christian agnostics, largely prayerless and Biblically illiterate.
Today’s deemphasis of Scripture’s commands, by overemphasizing it’s promises, is hardly surprising. It all but goes without saying given the exceptional entitlement of our generation. Additionally, the Bible is many things. Not the least of which is a love story between God and man. Such being the case, the elevation of Divine love, mercy and faithfulness over and against Omnity’s directives, demands and judgments is at least understandable.
In truth, the God of the Bible has always been somewhat of a mystery. Often, even to its own patriarchs and prophets. Many are the times men and women of renowned faith failed to comprehend the full context and meaning of God and His Word. As well as the times and seasons in which they lived.
Adding to this dilemma is the disastrous effects of the original sin of entitlement. In all its ancient and modern forms. All the more so in light of Lucifer’s rebellion having marred Heaven’s history and so traumatically influenced mankind’s. To the diligent student, Scripture reveals the presence of an invisible enemy. An Evil One besieging the world, secular and sacred, through trouble and temptation, deception and sin:
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 New International Version
“Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26 New International Version
The Word of God reveals the attitudes and actions of angels and men. The obedient are offered the rewards of eternal life, and the rebellions damnation:
“Little children (believers, dear ones), do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who practices righteousness [the one who strives to live a consistently honorable life—in private as well as in public—and to conform to God’s precepts] is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who practices sin [separating himself from God, and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion] is of the devil [and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God]; for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:7-9 Amplified Bible
Given the full context and content of God’s revelation to mankind through His chosen people the Jews, presumption holds particular concern for Gentile believers. Paul, as the apostle of the Gentiles, develops this theme when addressing the dispensation of God’s grace to the non-Jewish world.
“Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there’s bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree’s branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.” Romans 11:16-18 The Message
“It’s certainly possible to say, “Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!” Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you’re on the tree is because your graft “took” when you believed, and because you’re connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don’t get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green.” Romans 11:19-20 The Message
“If God didn’t think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn’t give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don’t presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you’re out of there.” Romans 11:21-22 The Message
“What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, to this very day.” Romans 11:7-8 New King James Version
Millions, if not billions, of believers start and continue their efforts to follow Christ from the default position of assumed salvation. Generally based on little more than some form of feeling or confession of faith. A mistake Jesus strictly warned against as previously referenced:
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’” Matthew 7:21-23 The Message
Even when well meant, such presumption skews every aspect of Christian life. Often diminishing, if not destroying, any semblance of honest and genuine spiritual sensitivity and discernment. A self evident fact, apparent in the schisms necessitating over a hundred Christian sects. Not to mention continual insensitivity to such issues as abortion and immorality, worldliness and worse.
The historicity of both Old and New Testaments strongly suggest taking an opposite approach. Rather than resting on the fragile and fabricated peace of our accepting Jesus, the Bible argues that we should concern ourselves as to whether or not Jesus has and will continue to accept us.
Misnomers such as eternal security notwithstanding, regardless of sinner’s prayers or other feel-good faith traditions, the Bible is filled with warnings against assumption. Up to and including choosing to believe we're in some form of chosen club, while failing to meet Scripture’s stated conditions required to receive the free gift of salvation. The quantum gift of all gifts. One singularly purchased by Christ’s costly atonement, yet received by compliance with the conditions of Scripture. To this end, anything less than radical and heartfelt obedience, is an attitude Paul chastened in his beloved Corinthians. And by extension the rest of us:
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 New International Version
It merits a continual reminder that we are all telling ourselves a story. While insulated in a bubble. A bubble in which we are not alone. The question is how close is our narrative to God’s? What is desperately needed is an unusual degree of honesty and humility of heart. That and immediate and appropriate response from Prophetic Christians, quick to admit the sad truth of just how far we’ve fallen. Individually and collectively.
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