And when the conversation turns to it, the response most offered is “Oh, I believe in God.”
And if the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned, who they say He is, the answer is almost always the same. “Why, He’s my Lord and Savior of course.”
And then, when you start to ask some of those pertinent questions, the probing ones that even the newborn babe in Christ should be able to answer, questions that all who are hid in Christ find great joy in answering, the questions and statements of their enduring love for Him whom they say they serve with all their heart, the general answer is, “That’s between God and me.”
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
It is called a personal relationship with the Savior, for it is the most personal relationship that we who are hid in Christ will ever know, in this life or the next, yet these I speak of here not only will not speak of Him at length, but cannot, because these things, this personal relationship, this love is only Spiritually discerned, and they have not been born again.
Want to see tears start to form in a grown, hardened, callous old man’s eyes? Let me speak to you of who I once was and who I am now only because of Him who died for me. Would that be proof enough?
Of course not.
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22)
How about a few thousand short letters, hundreds of videos that lift up the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of the Most High, would that do it? Speaking to anyone that will listen about Him, offering the major portion of my days, and nights to Him. What is it I need to do, what do you need to do, to prove to yourself and to others that you are indeed who you say you are, the righteousness of God in Christ?
“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1st Sam. 16:7b)
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” (2nd Tim. 2:19a)
The flesh within me that serves the law of sin, my old sinful nature tells me I am a fool, our adversary reminds me of this every day, I am a fool, I have always been a fool, and I will die as a fool.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)
We who are hid in Christ have heard His voice, we hear the Holy Spirit within us, there is no doubt in us concerning the assurance of our salvation.
“He is the Creator of all reality, Savior and Sustainer of my soul, my Father, Friend and closest Kinsman. He is the reason I live, and the reason I do not fear death.”
When I am blessed to find someone, or perhaps better said, when the Lord places someone in front of me who will listen, I will speak for hours about Him, if I am not stopped. My beautiful wife has squeezed my hand many times in the past as a polite sign that perhaps it’s time to stop speaking and let them go to contemplate all that has been said.
Listen to those you begin to speak to, to witness to about the Living God, pay attention to the key words they will speak, that will tell you where they are standing, on the solid rock that is the Lord Jesus Christ, or on sinking sand.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20)
If they are indeed a brother or sister in Christ, rejoice with them, if not, plead with them, reveal His truths to them. If you truly have a personal relationship with Him, you will want to share Him with all you meet.
