Based on Romans 5:1-11 (New King James Version)
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
The greatest miracle that can ever happen in this world does not involve physical or material things. The greatest miracle that can happen to a human being does not involve eliminating all kinds of economic or financial worries. The greatest miracle does not consist of someone being healed from a deadly disease. The greatest miracle does not even consist of resurrecting a person that has died physically. The greatest miracle is that a human being receives the forgiveness of their sins and eternal salvation through Jesus Christ. Why?
Everything described at the beginning consists of solving things that pass. Money only helps while someone is alive, if it relates to a financial problem, because there are also people that die from incurable diseases and they were very rich (like Steve Jobs). Being healed from a deadly disease is great, but also, it is temporary. Even though someone is healed from a deadly sickness, some day they will have to die because there is nothing that can stop physical death. The same thing happens with someone that is resurrected (and there have been cases, like Lazarus). The Lord Himself raised Lazarus from the dead, but Lazarus one day died yet again. Almost everything a human being looks to receive or acknowledge as a miracle is related to the material or temporary world that one day will pass. So then, in comparison to eternity, what many consider as important or miracles are not very noticeable when compared to eternity. Apart from the eternal value that salvation has, what else gives it its immeasurable value?
What makes salvation so valuable (as it should be seen) is that it solves something that no human being can resolve. Science does not understand it, nor can it ever come to resolve the problem of sin or eternal death. How can scientific knowledge that is based on the physical and calculable deal with something that is neither physical or calculable, and that is outside of any contemplated law? Can physics deal with a man’s sin? Does an algorithm exist that can deal with the eternal life of a person? Is there a tablet or a medical treatment that can heal the soul of a person? I think not. So then, what an incredible miracle should God’s salvation be considered that He gives us through the Lord, and considering even more that it is a gift that is received through faith in Him! Now, does salvation have a purpose, aside from just saving a man’s soul? And the answer is, of course it does!
Even though salvation is a free miracle, we can see in different parts of the Scriptures that it has a purpose. It is not a gift that is received and life just goes on, or without any changes. On the contrary, something should happen in a human being when God’s salvation is manifested in someone’s life. In today’s passage, we see a process that is identified, and it is a difficult process that consists of changes and transformation that can only come through trial and tribulation. Like gold, we are renewed and transformed only through the fire.
The Bible explains that we must first take care of this salvation, that it should not be neglected. For it is written: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” Hebrews 2:1-4.
So then, as part of taking care of this salvation, comes a process of not just taking care of it, but also, using the gift to get to the next greater level in our life. For it is written: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-11. To be able to retain this salvation, it is very clear that a process must continue in the life of every believer. There cannot be any stagnation. Even though salvation is free and only by faith, God is looking for a lot of fruit and product from this great gift He has given us, for our own good.
And finally, the Lord taught us this: “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’” Luke 9:23-24. If one does not walk with the Lord, leaving behind sin and temporal things, they will never get to what God wants to do in their life (and God has great plans). So then, do you understand that God has given you such a great salvation to make something greater out of you? Lord bless! John