“As we’ve talked about many times,” Stan began, “I have deep respect for the apostle Paul and how he was able to write in a few words something that could take someone else many pages, if not volumes.”
“You’re right,” I replied, “Paul was gifted with the ability to write in an amazing manner.”
“It’s easy for me to miss the importance of what Paul wrote if I don’t give his writings adequate attention,” Stan said. “For example, just this morning I was again looking at Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. Thankfully, he made a copy of it available to me for instruction in my faith walk. Paul described Abraham in just two words that I pray can be said about me.”
“What two-word description is that” I asked.
“The believer,” Stan responded.
“The believer? What do you mean?”
“Well,” Stan replied, “in this particular part of his letter, Paul was focusing on how God dealt with Abraham, how Abraham obeyed what God had for him to obey, and the impact of that belief on Abraham, as well as on all who came after Abraham and benefited from his belief and obedience.”
“And it was all summed up by the two-word description?” I asked.
“That’s it,” Stan replied, “and I want the same thing to be said about me.”
“Who do you want to say that?”
“In the first instance,” Stan replied, “I want God to say that. Following that, I would like other people to recognize that I am a believer.”
“And how do you think that’s going to happen?” I asked.
“By believing, and by acting on that belief,” he replied. “Just remember,” he continued, “Jesus came into the world to provide the way to the Father for all who believed.”
“Without belief, there’s no salvation and no life eternally with God when our time here is done,” I observed.
“No belief, no salvation, no Holy Spirit, and no knowing God in a personal relationship,” Stan added. “Do you see why it’s important to be described the same way Paul described Abraham?”
“I do,” I replied. “To be able to be described as a believer kind of holds the key to everything that’s important.”
“Kind of holds the kay,” Stan said with a smile. “You, my friend, are a master at the understatement!”
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Bible verses to consider:
So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. Galatians 3:9.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
I do believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for those people you brought into my life so I could believe and accept by faith your free and gracious gift of salvation, redemption, and life with you for eternity when it’s time. Thank you, too, for your provision of the eternal life of being allowed to know you and Jesus in an ever-deepening personal relationship before then. Please help me in following every step of your leading into the deepest possible belief in everything you have for me to believe. Help my unbelief. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Do you believe and, on the basis of that belief, have the assurance of spending eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If no, why? What is holding you back from believing and accepting by faith God’s free and gracious provision of life eternally with Him. If you do have the assurance of salvation, how are you doing with building an ever-deeper faith based on greater belief in God and all of His provision? As well as you would like? As well as God would like? If you sense the need for deeper faith based on greater understanding of God, how is that going to happen? Is that something you would like to happen? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 