March 8 2014

March 8 2014

Greetings My Friend,

Yesterday was a day of phone calls and getting with people on a more intimate level. I loved it. In the past it was easy to talk daily with someone and explore life. These days with texts, Face Book, e-mail, and the like a lot of “face time” is quick and fast.

I have been told that I am a deep thinker. I love to explore the thoughts rolling around in my brain. I called P and she helped me understand a struggle I have had. Some people believe that “once saved always saved.” I struggle with this thought. I keep trying to understand and frankly I don't get it. P was able to give me a thought process. I usually refer to Ezekiel where there is an in depth discussion on how our own actions are what God looks at not our parents. We are judged by what we do. This makes sense to me. There is a discussion about if at one time you are right and following God's ways and then choose to walk away all the good you have done doesn't count.

I have met many people who made a heart felt confession at one point in their lives and then they walk away from the faith. Today though Junior is as strong in his faith or even stronger. Junior walked away for many years. He did some real scary things. As he settled down and became a husband and parent he had a friend invite him to church. Junior began his journey once more in the Lord. My guess Junior walked away for a good ten years or more. If he had died in that time he would have gone to hell.

The arguments I have heard are that the Old Testament is null and void with the coming of Christ. My problem with that is Jesus taught from the Old Testament. The disciples taught from the Old Testament so how can it be null and void. I have learned some great lessons reading the Old Testament.

Next was the argument that the person was not truly saved. Again I look at Junior. As a youngster he met Jesus. Junior's home life was crazy at best. One day he asked Jesus into his heart. He remembers that when he was the loneliest he would feel Jesus near him and be comforted. Then Junior grew into a teenager. He got into trouble. He went to war and was not close to Jesus at all. When he lost his foot and came back to the States he was rejected by the people. He was called names and spit on. This hurt him deeply. He began to run with motorcycle clubs the not good ones.

Again Junior settled down returned to the faith. He has stayed in the faith with moments of falling down only to get back up again and walk in the faith. Junior strives to be a husband to me and he uses the Bible and prayer to God to guide him. Most people would never suspect he was such a wild man. His demeanor is gentle and kind. He does have an opinion and will share it. He won't back down either.

At times Junior can sound crude but as I have my struggles God keeps pointing me to Junior's heart. As I look at this man's heart I can over look his crude ways. He works hard a making a real nice house for me/us. He is at my side as I have my struggles. When he gets overbearing he will listen to my side and then he will adjust his comments.

Junior will meet me in the middle and as he does this I have a need to meet him in the middle. I have a desire to seek God's input and frankly we have very few arguments. We have never had a need to scream, slug each other or slam doors. We have had moments where we walk away for a bit and then when we come together we are able to be civil.

P told me that Junior has been saved from the start of his walk as a child. He has walked away but God knew that one day Junior would come back to his faith. As I looked at this I saw others I have known that have done the same thing. I also remember a man I met that at one time was a Baptist Minister. He walked away from his faith, divorced his wife and began an alternate life style.

This man has bothered me in regards to his faith. He believed enough to go into the ministry. I hear that he must not have been “truly” saved. As I pondered all of this I realized that he either was saved and walked away for a period of time or never gave his whole heart.

The parable of the seeds comes to mind. Seeds thrown on rocky ground start out and die right away. Seeds sown fertile soil will grow. So some people like the “idea” and then walk away a short time later. Other people will grasp the Gospel and go with it to the finish line. Sometimes the seed will start out and look real poor and then rain comes and it grows strong. This is my illustration. The same for our faith journey. Some start then wander away only to come back even stronger.

We don't always know by the appearance if people are in the Lord. That is for God to decide. We can see fruit and go from that. It is the best we can do at this point. I feel like if I see a believer who is no longer walking with God that I need to be like Jesus and pray that one day they will come back.

Is your faith real? Only you know for sure.

May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you.

Love

Janet