Psalm 35:3 "Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation."
How often do we feel forsaken? It is not uncommon for Christians to feel alone and abandoned. Even though HE promises not to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) the feeling still creeps in from time to time. Sometimes it can happen that we would even question our salvation. King David was a human being. And for all his praise and worship he too felt this isolation at different times. And he had the courage to write about it. We can read in the Psalms where he frequently felt abandoned by GOD. He cried out to GOD not to abandon him forever. We can sometimes grow so weary of life's battles that we feel this same low that David faced. But in addition to his praises, and in addition to his feelings of loneliness, David also recorded his response to those feelings. When we feel the isolation and the darkness that we are promised is only a feeling and not our reality, we, like David, can cry out; "LORD, tell me You are my salvation."
Peace and blessings.
Shannon
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Can a person reject GOD too long?
I am writing this after a recent conversation with a friend. It seems some people teach that if a person rejects GOD too long, GOD will cut them off and no longer have salvation for them. I reject this teaching. There are two reasons. One is that it implies that GOD has a limited supply of patience and grace. And two, it makes HIS word a lie. Let me explain.
2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Here it is clearly stated that GOD desires that all should turn to HIM. And HE is longsuffering (patient) with those who reject HIM. GOD never gives up on any of us. As Christians it is good to know because this means HE never throws us out of the family for messing up too much. But it is also good news for anyone who doesn't know CHRIST. You have never been too bad or waited too long to come to CHRIST and receive HIS salvation.
The mistake made by many who teach differently is usually found in Romans 1:28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" Reprobate means disapproved. Keep in mind that we were all disapproved until we came to CHRIST. Also note that this verse speaks of people who seemed to come to CHRIST but soon gave it up. These people were never rooted in faith. Without faith true conversion cannot take place.
And to those who teach that this means that they can no longer be saved I have to say that is misinterpretation. It means they may seem harder to reach. But that is only from our perspective. No one is ever out of reach for GOD. It might seem hopeless to us sometimes. Especially after years of praying and witnessing to an individual only to see them reject GOD and become hard hearted. Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 18:27 all make it clear that what seems impossible for us in by no means impossible for GOD. And as for someone hardening their heart the scriptures make it clear that this is normal. Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26 both contain the words of GOD saying that HE will remove this heart of stone. And remember CHRIST said to fall on the rock and be broken and HE will mend us. Otherwise the rock will fall on us and crush us. (Matthew 21:44 and Luke 20:18)
So if you are concerned about someone you know who seems to be hopeless, don't give up. No matter how many times they reject GOD keep praying for them. If they are still alive there is still time. And if you are someone who has rejected GOD and you believe that you are beyond GOD'S ability or willingness to save, that is the devil lying to you to keep you from GOD. Turn to CHRIST. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Peace and GOD bless.
Shannon
2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Here it is clearly stated that GOD desires that all should turn to HIM. And HE is longsuffering (patient) with those who reject HIM. GOD never gives up on any of us. As Christians it is good to know because this means HE never throws us out of the family for messing up too much. But it is also good news for anyone who doesn't know CHRIST. You have never been too bad or waited too long to come to CHRIST and receive HIS salvation.
The mistake made by many who teach differently is usually found in Romans 1:28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" Reprobate means disapproved. Keep in mind that we were all disapproved until we came to CHRIST. Also note that this verse speaks of people who seemed to come to CHRIST but soon gave it up. These people were never rooted in faith. Without faith true conversion cannot take place.
And to those who teach that this means that they can no longer be saved I have to say that is misinterpretation. It means they may seem harder to reach. But that is only from our perspective. No one is ever out of reach for GOD. It might seem hopeless to us sometimes. Especially after years of praying and witnessing to an individual only to see them reject GOD and become hard hearted. Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, and Luke 18:27 all make it clear that what seems impossible for us in by no means impossible for GOD. And as for someone hardening their heart the scriptures make it clear that this is normal. Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26 both contain the words of GOD saying that HE will remove this heart of stone. And remember CHRIST said to fall on the rock and be broken and HE will mend us. Otherwise the rock will fall on us and crush us. (Matthew 21:44 and Luke 20:18)
So if you are concerned about someone you know who seems to be hopeless, don't give up. No matter how many times they reject GOD keep praying for them. If they are still alive there is still time. And if you are someone who has rejected GOD and you believe that you are beyond GOD'S ability or willingness to save, that is the devil lying to you to keep you from GOD. Turn to CHRIST. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)
Peace and GOD bless.
Shannon
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