A Call for Repentance - Day 23: Forgive me Lord for forgetting the price of my salvation.

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NLT

Sometimes people who have overcome something in their lives, may inadvertently move away from the very thing(s) that helped them to overcome. And, in so doing, they often find themselves right back into the thing they had overcome.

Let’s understand this concept better by considering an example I have employed here before.

Years ago, I overheard a disturbing discussion between two people. I knew them both well, their histories, their struggles, and so on. Both of these individuals had been dealing with substance abuse. The one who had been on the wagon longer, said to the one who had just recently come out of the using lifestyle, the following: “I now know that I can drink socially without overdoing it. I know when to stop.” Well, long story made short, the one boasting about their ability to use in moderation, relapsed, and ended up dying young. The one to whom this person was speaking, went back to using for some length of time before ultimately overcoming through the grace of God.

You see, the one who was boasting that they could exercise moderation with something they should not be doing at all, “forgot” how it was in their life when their drug habit, paired with alcohol addiction, ruled over them. They “forgot” what it took to be free from a life driven from one fix to another.

Peter, after instructing concerning the need for developing a spiritually mature character, offers this warning:

“For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Indeed, failure to mature spiritually, failure to go on to know the Lord, puts one in danger of falling back into those things from which they had been rescued by the Lord Jesus Christ!

In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews warning that neglecting, or ignoring, our salvation, comes with great peril.

Granted, among those who truly love the Lord, few would ever think of themselves as “neglecting” (ignoring) their salvation. However, unless we keep the awareness of what a miracle our marvelous gift of salvation is, we could begin to take it for granted, losing the joy of our salvation, leading to our falling back into our old (sinful) ways of being and doing.

The Lord Himself has delivered us from destruction through His own sacrifice. He stands with arms wide open, welcoming all who will come to Him. But, the Lord made clear that if we love Him, we will live in obedience to Him. That means separating ourselves from the love of the world and its associated lusts.

Child of God, let us repent of forgetting—even for a moment—what a wonderful gift our salvation is and the great cost paid for our do-over, our way back to sharing His never-ending life.

Remember, we weren’t saved from darkness so that we can continue operating as those still in darkness. We were saved that we might follow after Jesus. Yes! Jesus will guide us into all righteousness in this life, all the way into the life hereafter, where we will rule and reign with Him!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#callforrepentance

#resolveforhim