Saved from and saved for by my Lord

“…Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10 NAS95).

“…Be saved from this perverse generation!” (Acts 2:40 NAS95).

“…and these whom He justified, He also glorified” (Romans 8:30 NAS95).

The God of the universe with His infinite mind has revealed His salvation in many facets. Sometimes He speaks of salvation in the present tense. Other times He says salvation awaits a future fulfillment. Yet at other times salvation is something believers experience, and at other times it’s not an experience, but a fact settled in the heavens. I think the reason for all this is that since it’s impossible for us, creatures, to comprehend in the fullest sense the vast and incomprehensible mind of God, our Creator had to stoop down to our level that we might understand His salvation at least in part this side of heaven. Working as a nurse for the past 5 years, I have come to see humanity in its truest sense, not in the way TV and liberal minds try to paint it. This job has given me the opportunity to compare Scripture with humanity, its deeds and consequences, and I must declare that Scripture is right every time. My Lord said: “your word is truth” (John 17:17 NAS95), and this job has allowed me to see that in ways that we don’t normally see. Most Christians do not engage with the unbeliever world. We are far too comfortable in our congregations or in our Christian environments. Very few believers venture out of that bubble into strange territory where the Lord and His Word are not well received. God has given me the blessing to be among non believers more time than among believers, and though it can be difficult at times, this has enriched my understanding.

Circling back to the many ways in which God’s salvation is explained to us and my experience with the rejecting world, I have come to appreciate and I thank God for what He saved me from and what He saved me for. The first chapter of the epistle to the Romans diagnoses humanity in very strong terms and based on that and my experience, I thank God that He saved me FROM the spirit of rebellion against Him that suppresses the truth in ungodliness (Romans 1:18). I thank God that He saved me from the refusal to honor Him as God  (Romans 1:21). He also saved me from the pride that professes to be ‘wise’ and decides to worship the creature, instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever (Romans 1:25). Moreover, my God has saved me from a depraved mind that thinks that having homosexual relationships is normal and will be fruitful (Romans 1:26-27). Even more, my Lord saved me from “…being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, … gossips, a slanderer, a hater of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventor of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful” (Romans 1:29-31 NAS95). Therefore, my God also saved me from experiencing the consequences of all this evil. You see, sin promises pleasure, fulfillment, meaning and happiness, but delivers misery, emptyness, loneliness, bitterness, and as a result, the Holy God and Righteous Judge of all the earth sends His rejectors far away from His presence, into the lake of fire.

I just want to mention one last thing, which is actually a mindset, an aptitude, a way of life that is so prevalent nowadays, that I see in my daily nursing practice and that my Lord saved me from: being a weak man. When I say weak, I don’t mean meek or physical weakness due to diseases and the decay of the body. No. I talk about being a male/man created in the image of God to imitate Him, yet refusing to take on responsibilities, allowing others to direct one’s life, not fighting for wives and children, wasting lots of money, time and energy on video games, sports and pornography. I am talking about the men who don’t marry their girlfriends because they prefer their homies and don’t want to be bothered. I talk about men, who can’t function without drugs and even when they get drugged up, they still refuse to function in society. They don’t want to work, go to college to improve themselves or launch a business. These men approve and support women’s liberal movements for the sole reason of getting free sex without the troubles of a married life. Yes. I thank my God that He saved me from being this type of man.

On top of all this, my God has saved me FOR unimaginable and wonderful blessings. He saved me for knowledge, to know Him, “… the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent” (John 17:3 NAS95). My God also saved me for His heavenly city (Revelation 21:3). He moreover saved me for life and immortality (2 Timothy 1:10). I was saved for glory (Romans 8:30). My Lord saved me for His throne, His presence and His kingdom (Revelation 3:21, 3:12, Luke 22:29). Lastly and most importantly of all, my Lord and God, Jesus the Messiah, saved me for Himself (John 14:2-3, Colossians 3:4). With all these blessings come the fulfillment of all the promises of God, and for all of this, my God saved me.