During the Christmas season and the start of a new year, how many of us have not thought about our past? I have probably more so now than ever as I age.
I remember vividly my childhood, my grandparents and also my great-grandparents. It amazes me how I am in the 21st century and I actually spoke and hugged those that were born in the 19th century.
I am sure that you too reflect on our lives, the good and the bad. Friend, we all have had struggles at one time or the other. Jesus said that “in this world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
But as I prayed to the Lord as to what should be written in this particular column, my heart was led to this verse of Scripture. So lets open God’s Word to 2 Corinthians 13:5:
“It is written; Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.”
Your relationship with Jesus Christ is the most important relationship you will ever have.
Over the years I have heard many testimonies of how that person was saved, and what God has done for them. But I have also heard those who say that at one time they had repeated a prayer, or they had been baptized, but never mention Christ or show the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in their everyday actions.
Now I know and believe Ephesians 2:8-9; it reads, “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”
But the very next verse says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them…”
It is important that anyone who is doubting and disobeying God’s Word carefully examine the reality of the professed conversion to Christ. Every professing Christian needs to give diligence to make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). We all need to be willing to face up to this issue.
I am reminded of what a favorite ol’ preacher (J. Vernon McGee) said, “When my daughter was just a little thing, she made a confession of her faith to her mother when they were visiting her grandmother in Texas. She came in one day and said out of the clear sky that she wanted to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord. My wife took her to the bedroom, she got down on her knees and accepted Christ.
“Regularly after that I would ask her about her relationship to Christ. When she got into her teens, she asked, Daddy, why do you keep asking me whether I am a Christian or not or whether I really trusted in Jesus? I told her, ‘I just want to make sure. After all, you are my child and I want to be sure.’ Now not only did I do that for her, I did it for myself also. I think every believer ought to do that.”
The apostle Paul took an inventory of himself. May I ask, how about you?
Friend, this life is short, as I have found out. My prayer for you is to look deep inside yourself, reflecting on your eternity.
Jesus paid the price for our eternal life, but it is not given out until we see our own sins, admitting (confessing) them to God — agreeing with Him as to our hopeless state and trusting in Jesus Christ alone to forgive and to save.
Won’t you come to Him now? He is waiting for you with His arms outstretched!
Lance Stevens pastors at Huntsville Evangelical Community Church in Pendleton. He and his wife, Judy, are formerly of Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to dr-editorial@greenfield reporter.com.
