Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Difficult Realities

 (submitted by Kerry Patton)
“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
This Example is Not a Political Statement
This point is not made in support of the President-Elect, nor in opposition to him, but to address other matters.  Even now, sixty-three days (at the time of this writing) since the Presidential Election, there exist persons who protest and debate the legitimacy of President-Elect Trump.  A number of those individuals protest not his ideology, nor his qualifications, but the fact that he lost the popular vote by some 2.2 million votes* (*source, washingtonpost.com).   As frustrating as this reality may be for such individuals to face, the reality is that the United States of America is not a democracy in the truest sense.  It is a republic.  The difference between the two is clarified by the following from wisegeek.com:
A republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter or constitution. A democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority.”
So, while the election of local and state officials, and other matters of legal and civic pertinence are decided by majority vote, the election of our highest office is not.  Presidents are elected by the Electoral College.
This Example Is Not About Sports
In 1983, I was a High School Senior attending Roscoe High School, in Roscoe, Texas.  The Roscoe Plowboy football team that year had advanced to the Texas 1A State Finals and played the team from Union Hill for the Division 1A State Championship title.  The Plowboys played very hard…succeeding to out achieve the Union Hill team in practically every measurable category: yards passing, yards rushing, total yards, penetrations in to the red zone, first downs…and on and on.  In fact, the Plowboys beat the Union Hill team in every measurable of the game…except for one:  the final score.  The Roscoe Plowboys lost to Union Hill 14-0.  As difficult as that reality may have been to face…it was a fact.  While they had shown themselves to be in so many ways the better team, they did not score more points, and they did not win the title.
All of That to Say This: 
No matter how many people might think that I am a nice person, or a good person…and no matter how many good deeds I may do in my life, without faith in the shed blood of Jesus, and without confessing him as my Lord, I will perish in a fiery hell.  Salvation is not a democracy, nor is it a meritocracy…it is a Theocracy.  There is but one way to the Father and that is through his son Jesus; who was crucified at Calvary, and resurrected three days later.  Only through a saving relationship with Jesus can I find salvation.  We cannot achieve salvation via popular vote, nor should we excel in practically every noble and good facet of our lives.  I know this is offensive to many of this generation who desire to be inclusive, and fair, and devoid of hate.  However, the fact is: The only means of being saved is by accepting the shed blood of Jesus as the ransom for your sins.  And no matter how fervently one might believe to the contrary, the truth remains.  Jesus is the only way.
Prayer

Father, again we confess that Christ Jesus is our only hope of salvation from sin.  Your love for us now compels us to live for you.  We will not abandon doing good, but help us so that in our living, your presence in our lives is evidenced.  O God, grant that we might love others as you love them!  Thank you for our salvation in Jesus.  And thank you for your Holy Spirit.  Guide us and strengthen us for the tasks of daily living to the honor and glory of your name.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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