When you get in your automobile and turn on the key—or press the start button with these newfangled vehicles nowadays—you want to be assured that that the engine will come to life. Even with that, you want to be assured that as you are driving your vehicle, the engine will not stop running and leave you stranded alongside the road or even sometimes in the middle of the road. I say this from recent experience. That assurance was not there for me almost as soon as we pulled onto the main road yesterday evening in my brother’s vehicle.
With the ice sticking around a little bit yesterday early in the morning, my brother took my niece to work, just to be safe and make sure that the roads were OK. The thing was though, since he took her, he had to go back and get her. I had not been out of the house in twelve days. (Twelve days people!) So, I thought it would be an excellent idea to actually clean up, put on real (outside) clothes and go out into the world, even if just for a ride.
We pulled out of the driveway onto our street and then onto the side streets. About the time we were getting onto the main highway. I heard this peck-peck-peck-peck-peck…fairly consistently. I asked my brother if his car was supposed to be making that noise. He said it had just started, but it was driving OK and the engine lights were OK so he wasn’t worried about it yet.
So we went down the four lane, and got on the Interstate. We made it halfway to our exit on the Interstate before the engine started doing weird things, and yes, the engine light finally came on. He got off the road and was able to check the oil, which was good. He got back in the car and turned it back on. It started and let him pull out, but it would not let him go faster than about 40 mph. So here we go, limping down the median of the Interstate at about 40 mph, until we were headed down a hill and he was able to get up to almost 60.
We were thankfully able to get off at an exit and get to a truck stop. Needless to say, yes, we had to call a tow truck. My assurance in that vehicle has been pretty slim lately anyhow. The trust has definitely been broken.
That being said, I won’t even go into the story of using “a popular location app” on the phone that I had been assured worked well…until it did not. When it canceled the tow truck twice and I finally had to fight my way through customer service to ask why, my assurance level in that app pretty much evaporated also.
In this world that we live in there are very few things that we can have complete assurance in. There is one thing we can always be assured will never fail though. In Romans 10:10-13, the Apostle Paul tells of the ultimate assurance for all mankind through faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul told the Roman church about the rewards of confessing and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. He said that if they confessed the Lord Jesus with their mouths and believed in their hearts that God rose Him from the dead, they would receive salvation and righteousness.
Then he referenced the Septuagint (Old Testament scripture) of Isaiah 28:16.(1) He told them that as this scripture said, anyone who believed in Christ (the Sure Foundation) would not be ashamed, would not flee away in fear. My though is I believe this could possibly mean that they would not be ashamed when, someday, they came into the presence of God.
Paul reminded them that God’s salvation was for everyone. The Lord did not uphold one group of people over another. He made no difference between the Jew and the Greek. The Lord poured out His infinite blessings to all that called upon His name.
Paul’s main message here was short and simple. He shared again from the Septuagint, this time from Joel 2:32 that, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord would be saved.” (2)
Now that is assurance, eternal assurance.
What is the challenge within this passage? For those who are following Christ, the challenge could be living for Christ, and not for the world; living out our faith so that when the opportunity presents itself, we will be able to confidently share the gospel message without shame.
How can we apply this to our lives? The common core command for all Christians is to tell every ethnic, social, and cultural class of people about Jesus. This passage gives us a simple explanation of the Lord’s Gospel, and possibly the application of this passage. Jesus proclaimed in Luke 24:46-48, that we are to preach it to “all nations.”(3)
What does this mean to my faith? God’s word is what strengthens my faith. Sometimes if I am uncertain about something, I go back into the Scriptures and look at the words of Jesus and find peace and assurance. We have to discern for ourselves what God’s truth is through His Word. Then we have to be willing to share that with everyone
Lord, you have given us assurance of Your love and Your salvation through the Scriptures and through the words of Jesus. Help me to always feel the assurance of my salvation, knowing that Your promise is absolute and that when I called on Your name, and believed in my heart, my salvation was complete. That is assurance.
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Scripture Reference:
“10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:10-13
Cross-Reference Scripture(s):
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:“ John 1:12 (KJV)
“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about Jesus Christ and hope He can change your eternity: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Blog Image by u_yos8brq82r from Pixabay
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(1) Isaiah 28:16
(2) Joel 2:32
(3) Luke 24:46-48
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 