” __________ (your name) is Mine!”, says the Lor
Don’t believe this? Didn’t hear it? It was said and will continue to be voiced. The Lord was speaking, and to the devil, who, of course, does not want you to respond by accepting. Point being… the Lord invites, it’s our option, opportunity to accept… or reject. We ALWAYS have the final say. And while the Lord always accepts us right where we are, He has no intention of leaving us in that same state. (I realize that I have written about salvation a number of times and from a variety of perspectives but it bears repeating.)
Fanciful on my part? Don’t think so. And no, I’m not putting words in the Lord’s mouth. Accepting or rejecting the Lord’s invitation is the single most important decision we will ever make. However, if we don’t say ‘yes’, does He give up on us? Somehow… I don’t think so. A complete renunciation, rejection – would be the final end (see verse 18). However, I believe that throughout our lives, if we haven’t accepted Jesus as Lord, we have innumerable opportunities to do so. Is this scriptural? It is if you look at the nature of the Father. He gave His Son for/to us as our redemption and restoration of relationship.
“The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, AMP)
Granted that this verse was referring to the Second Coming, but look at the reason – now wishing for any to perish. This is why I don’t believe He ever gives up on us but gives us many opportunities to be reconciled.
He’s also given other reasons: John 3:16 tells us of the great love the Father has for the world that He would go so far as to offer His Son as our redemption. That’s love doubled, because the Son had to accept the assignment… which He did. Everyone, Christian and pagan, knows John 3:16 but consider some of the verses before and after:
“Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever]. For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not
believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One
who alone can save him].” (John 3:14-18, AMP)
In accepting Jesus, believing in and trusting, we rid ourselves of a state of judgment, rejection, condemnation (v.18). I might also add that the end of verse 18 should also put an end to the discussions that there are other ways to the Father. The answer is – NO, there is only one way and His name if Jesus.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior].” (Romans 8:1, AMP)
I have been asked a number of times – why did they even needed a Savior, why should they be saved? They felt that their life was pretty good and that they were ‘livin’ the dream’. I pointed out 2 things. One: did they expect no travail, no problems, no threats to their lives to continue? and Two: did they believe that this life was ‘all there is’, that there was no afterlife?
Their answer to the first point was that they were preparing for negative times so they weren’t overly concerned. While this is a better approach than the ‘eat, drink, and be merry’ attitude, still there is one who has overcome the world and His name is Jesus – John 16:33.
The answer to the second point was a bit more vague on their part… not something they thought about very much. However, many thought that this life was all there was and others felt that if there was a God, He wouldn’t want His creation to suffer. Point: there are over 100 verses in scripture that discuss life after death. It does exist. And it is our decision where we spend it – heaven or hell. Because both exist.
By the way… I believe the Lord says to the devil “__ (your name) is Mine!”, for all of us, He is no respecter of people, we are all important in His eyes. However, the confirmation of that statement, the acceptance of His invitation is made by us – we either accept or reject Him.
