5-12-2016

Good Morning All!! 

          Genesis 49:18; “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.”

       Salvation is one of the core beliefs in Christianity.  It is possibly the most important one to us as humans but in many ways we are struggling with the whole concept of salvation.  Partly because we are losing sight of salvation’s core meaning.  The whole idea or concept of salvation in the Bible has its root in the Hebrew word “yasa’.” This term refers to a very clear and desperate condition of the person.  An example would be of a traveler who, as he was walking along a hillside path, slipped and fell down the side of the hill. In the process, he lost his walking staff and he broke his leg.  As he is lying there, two lions come upon him and begin to circle our traveler and are preparing to pounce.  Soon another traveler comes along, drives off the lions, bandages his wounds and takes him to a place to heal.

    Within this example we can see three core elements of salvation.  First we see that the traveler is in danger and or suffering harm and in need of some outside help.  He cannot save himself from the lions and he cannot run away.  The second part is that someone is the deliverer or savior.  Someone comes along and relieves the distress.  The third element we see is that there is a change in the situation that gives the sufferer (first traveler) relief.  These are needed in order for salvation to occur.  There is one element that is not listed and is coming into play in our lives more and more.  It assumes that the sufferer knows he needs saving and wants to be saved.

    While this last element seems obvious; it is also the most commonly missed in our society today.  More and more, people do not think they need to be saved.  They think they are “just fine”.  They will deny sin, minimize sin or rationalize sin within their own mind.  They either view the lions as cuddly or they simply declare that the lions do not exist.  Either way they refuse the aid of the savior and they remain in their painful condition.

    This is why it is important that you and I grasp the basic tenet of faith which begins “I, a poor miserable sinner.”  This is not a statement that means I am a pathetic loser.  This is a statement that means I am incapable of saving myself.  I recognize that I have a broken leg and surrounded by hungry lions.  I need help; I need a savior.  So I recognize and confess this phrase “I, a poor miserable sinner” to know that my salvation is entirely dependent on someone outside of my skills or abilities.  My salvation depends entirely on God and God chose to send Jesus to be my Savior.

    It is important that we remember, teach and confess “I, a poor miserable sinner” as a recognition of our needing a savior and of God providing that Savior for us.  Jesus saves and provides us relief.  He is our only hope.  Trust in his mercy to give you the comfort and relief that you need and desire.

Gracious Jesus, you came and brought healing and you give me relief from my suffering and balm for my wounds.  Bring the knowledge of your salvation to all.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret