“I was reading in the letter to the Hebrews earlier this morning,” Stan began, “and I saw what is almost a perfect reflection of me and my attitude towards Christianity before God opened my eyes to the truth.”
“That’s a pretty big statement,” I responded. “What was it you saw in the letter?”
“The writer lays out a whole series of things about the truth,” Stan replied, ”things I didn’t know about before I became a Christian and, frankly, wasn’t interested in knowing.”
“Happy in your ignorance?” I asked
“Sort of,” Stan replied. “I just didn’t know any better.”
Continuing, he said, “The writer lays out that Jesus, in the first instance, presented the truth of salvation by what He said and did while He was on earth.”
“Secondly,” Stan continued, “the writer says that those who had been with Jesus confirmed what Jesus said and did. We have the Biblical account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. I just had to read it!”
“It was there to be read if only you would have made the effort,” I replied. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“Exactly,” Stan said. “And that,” he continued, “is followed up by the fact that God bore witness to His salvation by signs, wonders, and various miracles. Again, I just had to open my eyes to look and see!”
“The writer then concludes,” he added, “by pointing out that we have the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us see. All that was and is needed is for me to get myself out of His way and accept His free gifts of help and counsel.”
“It’s like God was asking, ‘How much proof do you need?’ For me,” Stan concluded, “it was a matter of finally opening my eyes to see all of the truth that was around me. I needed to take off that which was blinding me and accept what was staring me in the face.”
“All the proof necessary of God’s gift of free salvation is available for the seeing, taking, accepting, and embracing,” I replied. “Is that a fair summary?”
“It is,” Stan replied. “We all just have to look, see, and help ourselves to what is freely available! However, I have to keep in mind that all of the looking, seeing, and helping has to be with the leading of the Holy Spirit. If I try to do it on my own, under my own power, it’s not going to happen.”
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How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Hebrews 2:3, 4.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the gift of salvation through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Thank you for all of the ways you have shown your salvation through your love, grace, and mercy. I confess that it took me way too long to come to the truth of your provision because I refused to open my eyes to see. Thank you for forgiving me and opening my eyes and encouraging me to respond by seeing, receiving, accepting, and embracing all you have for me. Please continue to show me your leading and help me to follow. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you believe that the truth of God is readily available for all to see if they will just look? Why or why not? Do you think you have seen all God has for you to see? If yes, what are you doing with what you have seen? If you do not think you have seen all God has for you, who or what may be keeping you from seeing? Do you want to see all God has for you? If so, do you know how to do that?
Waiting for the Train 