Have you ever been inspired by something before? Maybe it was a great speech your heard or a seminar you attended. It could have even been a song that really hit you in your core. Whatever it happened to be, it got you thinking that something in your life might change for the better. Because let’s face it, all of us need hope am I right?
A few years back, I found myself unexpectedly inspired by a song that I wanted to reshare with you because I think the words in this song will resonate as we navigate this life. You see if you are anything like me, you may find yourself constantly going back and forth; trying to be a good person and then when it matters, falling flat on my face.
Inevitably, we try and claw our way back into God’s good graces, and yet we feel like we are on the edge of a cliff and we can’t get back. Or we have gone too far and we’re going to fall over. And that is why I want you to hear the words from this song.
Because…No matter what path you have been on or may still be on…
Because…No matter what has happened in your past that you are ashamed of…
Because…No matter if you have ever experienced failure, or disappointment, or unhappiness, or you just can’t overcome something that is keeping you down…
Just in case you may have forgotten this important detail along the way.
God has an amazing grace just for you, and, because of what Christ did…
THE CROSS HAS MADE YOU FLAWLESS…
This is an important to consider; when God looks at us, what He sees isn’t pretty because we live in a world reeking of sin and frankly, I can’t imagine what that looks like from His perspective.
But, because of what Christ did on that cross, God looks at you and me through the filter of Jesus and instead of seeing sin, He sees someone who is pure and blameless before Him.
AND, I don’t care what you have done…that is between you and God but I do know that because of His grace towards all of us…and His righteousness wrapped around us…
You, YES YOU, and Me are Flawless…
Guys, this is a simple message but I also know it is easy to lose your way and forget even the simple things God has given to us. I believe there is no such thing as hopelessness for someone who recognizes what has been done for him by Jesus Christ on the cross…why?
Because being right with God and being flawless before Him; there is truly no greater place that anyone can be…and that my friend is the greatest hope any of us will ever experience.
This question has been troubling me for a while because it is a tough topic. I think the reason I find it so difficult is because of the people in my own family who at one point, were a “stand up and be counted”, Christians… But now, if you looked at their lives, you would clearly see that isn’t the case.
So how does God see the relationship while they are disconnected from Him? Will He give them a grace pass while they deviate from their Christian walk? How much rope does God give them? How much slack does He give any of us if we drift?
Before I really understood, I thought that once you were saved, that was it…you had salvation for the rest of your days. But that was before I knew I had a role in the relationship. I had to participate by living a different life than I did before. I could not just say I believe and then continue to live as I did before otherwise, it wasn’t really a salvation experience.
But if we are all honest about life, then we also know that no one is always 100% on fire, all the time. We all have an ebb and flow effect in our daily walks. And we also have some days we are not proud of. Days we completely messed up. How does God handle those days with us?
That said, I decided to go back into God‘s word and really seek some answers to these questions… Is yours and my salvation conditional? Can we get lost on our way and therefore lose our path to heaven? The smart answer is, I am going to let God‘s word speak for itself because, as I have found in research, the Bible has much to say about this topic.
So let’s get started by reviewing these verses in Hebrews below:
How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:3a
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Hebrews 3:6
We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:14
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Hebrews 10:26-27
All of these verses have something important in common besides the content about our salvation, they all use “if” statements.
For you and me in our everyday lives, an “If” statement is a conditional rule that dictates a specific action or outcome based on a specific condition being met. Essentially, it is an “if, then” statement, which says that “if [condition] is true, then [action/conclusion] happens”
Simply put, “If” we hold up our end of the relationship part of the bargain, then God will hold up his end of salvation for us. BUT…you and I have to participate in the daily walk of being connected to God. It can’t be just a Sunday thing, or a Thursday night thing…it is an everyday, every hour of every day thing.
So how can you and I avoid these pitfalls?
First, let me remind you that you and I are responsible for our own relationship with God. NO ONE can do this for you. AND… each of us will be held accountable for our relationship with God on judgment day. And if that shakes you up… It is meant to.
Second, we have to be consistent. Consistency can be the hardest thing about our Christian walk. Staying focused on what is important each and every day can be very difficult. What God has asked us to do is not hard, however, it requires some effort from you. Guys, figure out how to include God by just spending a few minutes each day with Him to keep your foundation firm.
Finally, you must be aware. I say this about 2 areas – First, you must be aware that you are a target for the enemy. That is why staying in the word consistently, and focused on God throughout your day is important. The farther you drift the more difficult it is to come back.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Second, don’t live your life as if you are walking on a high wire. You cannot juggle your Christian walk with the world’s version of you. There are too many examples of men who tried, failed, and lost everything. Staying aware in each situation you find yourself is critical for your salvation success. Don’t lie to yourself and say, “I can do this just one time”…that will not work.
So, after reading this post today, which I know is HARD truth, have you come to the same conclusions as I have, that our salvation is conditional? If you and I drift from our Lord and no longer listen to the still small voice of his Holy Spirit and decide to do our own thing, then we will find out we cannot enter into his rest. Or, in other words, into heaven.
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12
I do not want that for anyone.
I know that all of us want Heaven to be our final destination, but, as you have read today, for all of us, there is a conditional requirement; We are required to live a Godly life. If you have ever read any of my posts here on Iron-Man-strength.com blog … You will see how exactly to live a Godly life.
We do not get grace passes, indefinitely.
Does living a Godly life change your approach? Absolutely…100%, but I’m here to tell you living a godly life makes your life better… Not worse. I encourage you to take the next step.
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today”, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13
