WHERE AM I COMING FROM?

Back in the Vietnam war when a soldier travels from one army base to another the recieving sargent would ask him/her three questions: 1) Where are you coming from? Why are you here? And, where are you going?

These three essential questions define one thing - purpose. Everyone sometime in their lives have allow themselves to be challenged by one or more of these questions. The answers, in a spiritual sense, can unlock the rewards of eternal and abundant life.

Ask yourself, Where am I coming from?

I don't think there is a person on earth that has never pondered this question and surely many debates can be sparked about it; bringing many theories into play, especially the ones of the infamous Charles Darwin.

But humans, being finite cannot make an infinite conclusion. Therefore the creator, who is infinite has to state the infinite to us; thus comes about the word of God or commonly called the Bible.

It states that because of the first man that was created, "I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me"(Psalms 51:5).

In essence, every body came from a sinful nature and therefore has inherited sin. Because of this we are separated from God and in separation, we can only be tormented in the soul; both in this life and life to come.

Fortunately, God in turn created a way known as salvation, to bridge this gap and allow us to escape this terrible torment (hell's fire-where we are going if we do not receive it).

Allow this exerts from the feature book, "The Voice..." to explain "What is salvation?"

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Questions often fill our minds (both saved and unsaved) when it comes to the unknown and the reality of one’s eternal state. The principles of salvation are no different; it’s man’s ultimate desire, whether it’s out-rightly admitted or unknowingly channeled through some other means.

That’s the reason someone stated this fact, “Man is a credulous animal and must believe in something, in the absence of good grounds for belief they will be replaced by bad ones.” Why? God gave us “a measure of faith” (Rom12:3). Though this phrase was used in addressing Christian, it has its bearing on the rest of humanity.

In other words, every man was made with a belief system (a craven or capacity for faith). If it is not channeled to the correct belief, it will be consumed with a lie. Consequently, “there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof is death” (Prov 14:14). There is no two ways about it, you either possess salvation or not.

Christ made this clear, “he that is not with me is against me” (Lk 11:23). There is no in between.

Salvation involves the recognition of and relationship with a higher source of being than one’s self, in order to escape the ‘hell’ of one’s environment at present and thereafter. Generally, many have tried reaching that summit by their own methods; through self-realization, yoga, eastern philosophies, ‘contacting the inner you,’ observing of times, animism, consulting of familiar spirits, using divination, enchantments, charmers, witches, wizards and others mediums.

The not so bold amongst us have made our jobs, spouses, monies, extra-curriculum activities and other exploits our god by placing more emphasis on them and unknowingly putting God secondary.

Rather than think contemptuously about such folks, he or she should be commended for his or her courage to reach out. The mere fact this has happened, shows that, despite the money, influence, religious plateau and all our earthly achievements, we need a savior, in whose hands is true salvation.

From the fall of man due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience, men have always tried to fill that void or spiritual vacuum (belief system) with something greater than him or herself; whether it was a cause, an idol, or an overriding ambition.

In the bible days, we see a group of people at a city called Babel deciding to build a tower that would reach the heavens (Gen. 11:1-9). One would say their intention was good, they wanted to reach to heaven; “let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven;” (Gen. 11:4). Though, their intentions might have been good and instinctive because of our void belief system, the channel or method was not of God so their efforts would have been wasted, being unguided by their maker.

An angel, person, achievement, human innovation, religious principle, altered state of mind, cause/effect, education or anything for that matter, cannot replace true salvation. Attaining salvation can only be achieved by what the savior says – Bible.

A computer cannot be assembled without reading the instruction manual. Similarly, one cannot attain salvation without knowing the savior’s biblical principles.

Salvation is only of the Lord, “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord” (Ps. 3:8). Another verse says, “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9). Christians often quote, “the Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps. 27:9).

Who is the Lord?

The Lord is God.

He is our savior and salvation. God himself stated, “I, even, I am the Lord and beside me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:11). What great emphasis the Lord makes, “I, even I.” In other words he is saying, me and nobody else can be your Lord and savior.

Not me and putting self, a man, a woman or an angel first: Not me and the witch doctor, wizard, physic, fortuneteller and other mediums: Not me and one’s education, achievements, dreams and aspiration: Not me and one’s money and one’s collateral: Not me and one’s emphasis on theological studies, religious office or years of service: Not me and one’s science, philosophies, rudiments of the world and traditions.

“I, even, I am the Lord and beside me there is no savior.” In essence, without God there is no salvation.

No wonder the great King David said, “O God, thou God of my salvation,”(Ps. 51:14). He went on to say, “In God is my salvation and my glory” (Ps. 62:7). Therefore, first, our salvation and second, all glory should be in God. David knew that “From him cometh … salvation” (Ps. 62:1). The prophet Isaiah himself said, “Behold, God is my salvation” (Isa. 12:2).

Then from him, we see Jesus. He being a savior meant that he has salvation. The apostle Peter had this to say about Jesus, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people.” If that wasn’t bold enough, Acts 4:12 said this about the name of Jesus, “Neither is there salvation in any other.”

Christ is our savior and he alone has salvation. The book of 2 Timothy 2:10 assures us that, “salvation … is in Christ Jesus with eternal Glory.” In other words, we can only “obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thes 5:9).

Have you noticed the numerous amounts of bible scriptures above that relates to salvation. Have you noticed the millions of Christians and other faith based groups around the world. Have you notice that most wars, if not all are religiously oriented

So evidently, it is of a fact that we need salvation; not only that, but we need to know the truth concerning the principles of salvation: for “broad is the way, that lead to destruction, and many there be which go in … because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Math. 7:13).

WHY DOES EVERYONE NEED SALVATION?

Here is what the dictionary says about salvation: “act of saving or being saved, especially from sin and its consequences.” The same dictionary describes the word save as “rescue or preserve from danger or harm.”

Then the question arose, what am I being rescued from?

Let us look at this illustration:


When an outlaw becomes tired of being a fugitive from justice, he goes direct to the Sheriff’s office, identifies himself and gives up. He confesses all the crimes he has committed and answers truthfully every question, regardless of how bad it is against him, or who it implicates, be it his own brother, or best friend. He withholds nothing.

When the Law is thoroughly convinced that he has made a full and honest confession, after certain legal procedures, because he has turned State’s evidence, they mark off the penalty of his guilt against him according to the nature and seriousness of his crimes.

Sometimes he is given a light sentence, maybe a fine, or, complete freedom, whereas life imprisonment or the gallows might have been his fate had he not voluntarily surrendered. He now can meet every Star on the nation’s police force without fear of apprehension for his slate is clean.

Likewise, when a sinner decides to no longer be an outlaw against God and a fugitive from Divine justice, he goes without hesitation to Jesus and in heart-broken repentance confesses his every sin and wrong and humbly begs His forgiveness.

Because of sin we are sentence to life eternal in a lake of fire (Rev 21:8).

Why?

Firstly, everyone is born in sin because of Adam’s disobedience. Romans 5:12 shows this, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” In other words, just being born one needs a savior. Miraculously, it took one man, Jesus, to rescued us from the Lake of fire, “for if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:15).

One would be guilty before God for his inherent and personal sin, if there was no salvation. And we know that Justice has to be satisfied in any court.

Secondly, when Adam eat the fruit in the garden it severed his relationship with God. Unbelievably, one of God’s utmost desires is not to make one wealthy, famous and comfortable, but rather to have a personal relationship with his most glorious earthly creation. He loves us and desires to have a personal relationship with us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” ( John 3:16). God came in the cool of the day to speak with Adam, he has always desired that with you.

Without this relationship with God on earth one cannot have real joy, peace, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (self-control), be gentle or feel loved. One might possess wealth, beauty, education, status, influence and other cherished fabricated necessities, but still feel unloved and therefore cannot give love.

Look at it: - a big expensive empty house occupied by an empty aristocrat or married but unable to trust each other, educated but depressed and suicidal, theological sound but doctrinally incorrect, religious but unsure about heaven, well-known artist but lonely and do not know God.

Another nightclub, nothing; another drink, nothing; another drug, nothing; another s¥xual relation, nothing; another wayward attendance to church service, nothing; another book given to read, nothing; another day to live, nothing. And the cycle goes on. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why we need a savior. Yes, there is the lake of fire, but a Christ-less life is hell on earth.

One might even refute and say, I have all that and I am no way deficient in any of the above ways or any known way. That might be so now but later on with or without sudden misfortune, one will soon realize that one is empty. A leaf does not start decaying the moment it falls from the tree to the ground.

The truth is one cannot live without some of these necessities. Nevertheless, there are godly principles involved and it is summed up in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Most of all, you will posses the exact same relationship that Adam had with God when he came in the cool of the day to talk with him (Gen 3:8). There you will find perpetual joy, peace, love and an experience beyond your wildest imagination. You will be drinking living waters and eating heavenly bread.

In concluding, there are two main benefits to salvation; one, to save your soul from burning in the lake of fire forever. In order to do this, the sins that would sentence you to death and the lake of fire must be pardon or waived; plus your spirit and soul has to come alive. Jesus Christ came and did that for us (1 Cor 15:17).

Second, we need salvation from our present situation, though we seem physically, economically, socially and morally sound, a life without Christ is only hell on earth. It is sometimes full of pleasure, though worldly; which will only lead to hell’s torment. Even if one is poor and possess salvation, one is much better off than the rich, for “a little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” (Psalm 37:16).

Do not be fooled, if one is not with Christ in covenant relationship, one is with the devil, whether one knows it or not (Luke 11:23).

In assurance, all that is good and perfect comes from God. The savior said, “the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” In other words, Jesus came to give you eternal and abundant life.

To learn more download, print or purchase the featured book, "The Voice..." or "You believe...Now Receive..."

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