Crossing the Border
There is likely no more important decision than the one of receiving Christ as our Savior. It ushers us into the Kingdom of God and spiritually is the difference between life and death. Still, I sometimes meet believers who are concerned that they are not really “saved.”
I’ve often thought that the people most likely to worry about their salvation are ones who least need to. The worry itself, is often a sign that they deeply desire to please God and He is at work in them. Often, they’ve grown up in the church, excepting at face value that Jesus died for their sins, that he rose from the dead, and that he’s coming back again. They’ve sacrificially given themselves to the work of God through their local church, surrendering their time, talents and resources to advance the kingdom. They’ve experienced the presence of God in worship, and His help and leaderships in times of trouble. Still, they are unable to point to an exact day or even a single experience where they crossed over. There was no zap or pop or sizzle to their conversion. Now they wonder why … If something is wrong … if they don’t measure up.
Washington Gladden, a famous pastor in the late 1800’s was like this. As a young man he was tortured by these same questions. He believed that he was a sinner who needed to except Jesus as his Savior. He prayed repeatedly to be saved. Yet, each time nothing seemed to happen.
As a result of the revivalism around him that put a premium on profound conversion experiences and dramatic testimonies of transformation, he never felt that his spiritual life measured up to others. He never could find or feel what others did. Finally, he met a pastor whom he described as “clear-headed and caring.” This pastor instructed Gladding that if he would trust in God‘s love demonstrated on by Jesus’ work on the cross, and “walk in faith,” i.e. live according to the example of Jesus, he could be certain of his relationship with God, whether his Christian journey looked like others or not. The conversation set Gladden free. Rather than doubt he could now celebrate what God had done for him, not based in the intensity of his feelings but in the promise of God. Gladden continued to serve Christ for the rest of his days, caring for his flock, focusing on how Christian faith connected with social issues of the day and writing hymns such as the famous, “Oh, Master, Let Me Walk With Thee.”
It strikes me that Luke in his gospel and in the Book of Acts provides two different experiences of people coming to believe in Jesus as their Savior. Both involve a road. One is the famous road to Damascus on which Saul, the enemy of Christianity, meets Jesus and is converted. He is knocked to his knees, hears a loud voice, is blinded by a bright light and instructed what to do next. It is a powerful experience of immediate change.
The second road is the one leading to Emmaus. On it, two discouraged but hopeful people of faith encounter Jesus. At first, they don’t recognize him. Yet as they walk with him, they learn from him. They share their deepest cares concerns and fears with him and he instructs them and molds their thoughts. They invite him home with them to continue their conversation over dinner. It is only after a continued time of sharing with him that they finally recognize him “in the breaking of the bread.”
C. S. Lewis compares this second pattern of conversion to a train that is traveling between two countries. At some point the train will cross the border. It is a clear and certain line that separates the two. But suppose the passengers are asleep or preoccupied during the crossing. Suppose that the border is not well-marked, or that their view is blocked. Though they may not recognize it, they have now entered a new land. It is a clear fact, even if they are uncertain or unaware.
So it is with God’s kingdom. Some enter it with great fanfare and excitement. They can mark the very moment when they crossed over. Others’ entry is less obvious. They can say with certainty that they belong to Christ, yet they may not be able to point out the exact day and time when it first happened. What is important however, is that they have entered the Kingdom.
God deals with people in different ways. He is the author of salvation and He meets us where we are to provide what we need. The important thing is that we, as Gladden’s pastor advised, “trust Him and walk with Him.” If we will trust his promise of salvation and follow Him, it is a walk that will take us into a land that begins here and whose borders stretch to eternity.
—The Rev. James R. Needham
How confident are you in your salvation? Has your experience been more like the Damascus or the Emmaus road? The Epistle of John tells us “by this you can know that you have eternal life.” Although we may not be certain of the time or day it is important that we are sure we have crossed over. If you are one who has doubts or concerns about your salvation the following prayer can help you put doubt to rest and move on in confidence. Say it to start your walk with Christ or say it as someone who has been walking with Him for a long time. Either way, continue to trust Him, walk with Him and rest in His promise: Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sin and rising again so that I can have a relationship with you now and forever. I am sorry for the times I have tried to live life on my own. According to your promise that anyone who asks will receive, please hear my desire to follow you, forgive me of my sin, and send your Holy Spirit to give me strength. Right now in this moment I trust that I am yours and you are mine, forever. AMEN.
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics