For many months now I have had ups and downs in my faith in God. I tried hard at times thinking I needed to do more (pray, read bible, give charity etc ) until the truth dawned on me. It was not in the strength of my hands but in the strong, supernatural divine grip of His hands my salvation rested upon. At all those times when I was down, there was one single promise that I held on to:
- Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:6
What is the work he began in us and how and when will he complete it? How different is Christ from the empty promises of all other religions? Why trust Him? These are very natural questions for a new beginner and definitely for a non believer. Let us explore this a bit more and see how the Bible answers these questions and concerns
What is the work he began in us and how and when will he complete it?
Every believer knows when he has truly been called and when he came to Christ. Our effectual call to believe in him and thereby leading to salvation is a work of God. There are many who have heard the Gospel and have not turned to him. There are many self professed christians who still are in the religion but not in Christ. Justification by faith is predestined and God has a time, a place and a way to bring those whom he wants to bring into his kingdom.
- And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:30
The above verse again has been my lifeline. For, however weak I am, I know that he who called me will take me to the end. The narrow path to the narrow gate is not an easy road, and without his grace and his mercy we will never reach the end. He equips us, holds on to us, guides us and ensures that not even one of us is lost. He is the Good Shepherd.
- My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. John 10:27-29
We have the ‘Double Guarantee’ from the Father and the Son- No one can snatch us from their hands once we have believed in Christ. And to what end? To be sanctified and glorified. To present us to the Holy God without blemish, without sin. No amount of trying to do good deeds, giving charity, being moral is the answer to our salvation. For we can never be good enough for God. To believe in the Gospel means to believe in the Redeeming Power of the blood of Christ and that alone is the saving grace. Once we are called we are in the continual process of purification by Faith alone, Grace alone, Christ Alone. And when he calls us home or he returns, rest assured we will see the glory of God and live an everlasting life.
How different is the call of Christ from the rest?
One can write many books on this. But to keep it simple I am going to say what I discerned in my short walk with Christ so far. He became human and died a shameful death on the cross bearing all our our sins. He has been through every temptation we could face and knows how to get us out- for he did it. He does not fight violently or need our strength to fight evil. He in fact conquered death through death. All he asks us is, to Believe and nothing more. Rest is in his work and his grace. He does not expect any deeds out of our effort…he just expects our commitment to His way- Love God and Love one another. He does not burden us with a ton of rules or do’s and dont’s. He just opens/renews our hearts and mind. We are reborn, changed, transformed to follow him and imitate Him. He empowers us with the Holy Spirit. Unlike any other god He is a God who serves and once he takes hold of us, we know that we are in safe hands.
- The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” Luke 17:24-25
- Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28
- I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.Isaiah 46:4
- Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.Isaiah 64:4
Why trust Him?
We trust God because we are commanded to in the Bible. But what do I say to some one who does not believe the Bible. Well again I can only tel what I experienced. When you trust in a Sovereign God you put your trust in the Creator, the maker of heaven and Earth. What other stronger force can you lean on to? Now is this a mere delusion or fantasy. That you will only know when you “take that leap of faith”. But when your trust him yo will know the value of that trust like these verse below describe:
- Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.Psalm 27:10
- Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.Isaiah 41:10
- For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.Isaiah 41:13
- My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.Psalm 63:8
- Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.Isaiah 49:16
- Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.Psalm 139:10
So being confident in a God who holds us strong let us resolve like the apostle Paul to press on to take hold of that perfection from Christ
- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
