Life Principles of the Gospel Man Part 2
In Mark 10, Jesus gives us the story of The Rich Young Ruler. This man is a very religious guy, and has been really good at going to church and doing religious things—but he feels empty. After realizing that neither status nor religious living would earn God’s favor and salvation, even the disciples are confused. They ask Jesus how in the world could anyone hope to be saved if successful religious people weren’t good enough. Jesus told ‘em it was impossible. There was no way man could be saved—at least, not in his own strength. But that is the beauty of Amazing Grace! Only GOD has the ability to save me, and I have nothing in my own power to overcome my inability to get myself saved! Wow, that was a mouthful.
Now, for those of us who are in Christ, we should feel invincible. I remember reading a quote from Stonewall Jackson, the great battlefield general of the 19th century. He was a devout man of God, who loved The Gospel and wanted to see men come to faith in Jesus. He was fearless in battle and was so confident in God’s sovereignty that he stood in the face of enemy fire like a statue. He said he felt as safe in battle as he did in bed. THAT is confidence in The Lord.
Adam Brown, a member of the elite Seal Team Six who was killed in action in 2010, once said he didn’t know how anyone could go to war that didn’t have faith in The Lord. Confidence in God’s providence enables men and women to move forward in the face of overwhelming adversity.
The Gospel-Man knows that there is no greater miracle than the miracle of the salvation of sinners. If God can radically redeem sinners, and if that salvation actually happens—and it does—then anything really is possible. My life is defined by the calling and blueprint God has for me. So, to borrow from a favorite modern hymn, “til he returns, or calls me home…” I am invincible. And regardless of how difficult the circumstances in life may be, God is never nervous or unsure of what he intends to do. The God who saves me, empowers me to live obediently, and the impossible becomes possible.
I want to live as one who really does believe that with God, all things really are possible.
Check out Part One.