The Adventure Continues
It is a huge misunderstanding to believe that after salvation, our adventure is over. Too many times, I have heard people say or act in a manner that reflected a dull and boring spiritual life, one of “Thou shall not” or “Feelings and emotions” when in fact God is so much more. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for us it was to save us from sin, His resurrection demonstrates that His purchase of us from sin is valid but also that He is a God who is very much alive and active in the believers life.
Paul argues for why it was important for Jesus to raise from the dead, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” 1st Corinthians 15:17. But what do we do after? What should our prayer be after we are saved? Thankfully, there are many answers. It is partly based on your area of life and it is partially based on where God is calling you. However, if you do not know, may I suggest a small but hidden prayer most gloss over and do not give a second thought. The prayer can be found in Psalm 27:11-14. Here we see King David asking for the Lord something remarkable.
Psalms 27:11-14 “Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. 13 [I would have lost heart,] unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
This prayer recognizes the real threat we face when we become saved. Many now seek to demoralize you, ridicule you, and even attempt to pull you away from your faith; but God recognizes this and is willing to help us strive through. King David knew to ask the Lord for help, “Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path,” King David wanted the Lord to be active and be more than a participant in his life, but actively leading his life. God is not the co-pilot of the Christian but rather the only Captain on the vessel. But King David recognizes that he can reach out to God with the daily issues of concern and that God cares to hear it, “Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.” God recognizes the needs we are in, it is why Jesus in the book of Matthew instructs us on how our attitude and actions should be with the daily grind and problems of life.
Matthew 6:26-34 “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, [will He] not much more [clothe] you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.”
God cares for you and I, it is why we can have the hope of His return one day. It is why King David recognized this hope and held on to it when life seemed unbearable, “13 [I would have lost heart,] unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”
So remember that our Lord is more than just a Savior, but He is an active part in our life. We can choose to have Him sit on the sideline as we trip, fall, and stumble; or we can allow Him to have the rightful place in our life and let Him lead accordingly. This prayer will help you remember that Salvation is only the end for where we spend eternity, not the end of the adventure we are on today.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL