“Just about everywhere I look,” Stan began, “I see something about what I’m supposed to do with my salvation.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“You remember when the station master told you to leave the train station platform and go give away tickets and tell the people what the ticket means?”
“I do,” I replied. “Not just sit on the platform holding my ticket while I wait for the train.” [Note to Reader: See Posting Number 1, “Waiting For The Train”.]
“Exactly,” Stan said, “and that’s what I’m talking about. I saw it again this morning in the Book of Psalms.”
“But isn’t that in the Old Testament?” I asked.
“Sure is,” Stan replied, “but it’s in the Bible and the message is the same, whether it’s in the New Testament or the Old Testament.”
“Same message?” I said. “What same message?”
“The verse in Psalms I focused on,” Stan replied, “says it perfectly. I am to be guided by God and then step into eternity to be with Him forever.”
“And,” he continued, “the ‘guided by God’ part is what is to happen after I have accepted His free and gracious gift of salvation. For as long as God chooses to keep me on this side of eternity, I am to be guided by Him in who I am and what I do.”
“Then,” he added, “when my time here is done, I will board the train to be in God’s presence for the rest of eternity.”
“Be assured of salvation,” I responded, “and then do something with that assurance. Is that it? Is that what you are saying?”
“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied. “I’ve said that before and I will probably say it again. Do you know why?”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it’s real important!”
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Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73:23, 24.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12, 13.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your free and gracious gift of salvation through the finished work of Jesus. Thank you for the assurance of salvation for when my time here is done. Thank you, too, that you want me to work out that salvation by being and by doing what you intend for as long as you keep me on this side of eternity. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide me in that working out. Please help me to follow every step of your lead so I don’t just sit and wait for the train clutching my ticket which is the assurance of salvation. No, please help me to work out the salvation you have worked in so lives and eternal destinations of others may be impacted. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you have the assurance of salvation for when your time here is finished? If not, do you know it’s available as a free and gracious gift from God? All you have to do is accept it. If you do have that assurance, do you believe you are supposed to do something because of the assurance? Why or why not? Working out your salvation does not mean working for your salvation. Are you comfortable with that distinction? What, if anything, are you doing to work out your salvation?
Waiting for the Train 