In life, everyone has reasons. Sometimes our reasons are our justification of the things we have done, or are doing. Sometimes our reasons are flat-out lies. However, sometimes our reasons are based on truth.
In this strip, Non Sequitur, Danae’s sister, Kate, has a truth to deliver. Because this truth stopped Danae dead in her tracks, she became victimized. Happens all the time in life, especially when the truth regards Jesus Christ and His saving grace.
See the truth is, sin is a BIG deal to God. An affront, if you will. Sin got man kicked out of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-24), sin brought sorrow to God (Gen 6:5-6), sin becomes an abomination to God (Prov 6:16-19). Because of man’s sinfulness, Jesus was sent (not going to explain the Trinity here, just know that Jesus was FULLY God and FULLY Man) to become the propitiation for our sins - that those who believe should be saved through Him. (John 3:16-18) This was predestined, and not at all a surprise to God. (Acts 4:27-28)
Where it gets sticky, the “dogma” of today’s church, is the teaching that man has anything to do with this salvation. Some in the church read John 3:16 and get stuck there…. “that whoever believes in Him should not perish…..”. The problem is that they don’t finish reading what Christ said. In 3:18, Jesus states, He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already (emphasis added), because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Yes, God has already judged. He has predetermined the outcome. He has preordained those who will come to the believing knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior. Romans 8:29 states that He foreknew and predestined those who would become conformed to the image of His Son. Verse 30 of the same chapter in Romans says “and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
See, God calls those He has elected. You don’t get to pick Him, He picks you. He calls you. Why? How can God do this? Well, I can’t tell you the why of it, but I can tell you what God says. In Exodus 33, God is speaking with Moses about finding favor in His sight. In verse 19, God says “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
Paul references this passage in his letter to the Romans. And he reasons it with God’s word in Romans 9:14. (Referencing 2 Chron. 19:7) “What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
And then Paul wraps it all up with this tidbit from Romans 9:16. “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” The “IT” here is salvation (to become a child of God).
So, if you are floating in mid-air because you walked an aisle and made a conscious decision to make Christ your Lord and Savior, you may want to look again at what the Bible says. Oh, I’m not saying you aren’t a child of God. That is not mine to judge. What I am asking is that you look at your salvation. Is there fruit? Does God’s word make sense to you, and can you readily apply it to your life? See, you can’t do that without the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And you can’t have the Holy Spirit’s guidance without God’s calling you to be His child.
It’s nothing you did.
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Yes, all the Glory for our salvation belongs to God, and God alone!
Sola Deo Gloria!