Heart Soul Mind Strength

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. [John 12:24 NKJV]”

In my previous post, “A Familiar Valley,” I shared about my experiences with death, both as a human physical reality of losing loved ones and as a necessary step in Spiritual re-birth as the shackles of my carnal desires died. I shared that God was leading me to an unknown destination. The journey continues and, I believe, I will not know the extent of God’s purpose in the lessons He leads me through or the fruit that He will bring as I yield my little to Him day by day. Salvation is of the Lord; I am unqualified to save myself.

My salvation began at the death of sin that had grown and attached to me, like cancer. My self was so intwined in sin that it also died. Most of the culture I am surrounded by is focused on fighting to stay alive at all costs, but placing my dying self into the hands of the Creator God brought hope in death. The original self, the soul, was meant for a sinless world, a world with nothing to feel ashamed of or guilty about. When my soul died, God replaced it with a new one.

I cannot at any moment boast about anything good coming from my general vicinity. I cannot stand and list my qualifications for salvation in a “better than others” tone [Luke 18:9-12.] I left the Army with an “unqualified resignation” meaning simply that I had the option to resign, and I took it. My contractual obligation was completed and then some, and I wanted to start living in this available freedom. In the same way, I did not qualify for salvation by Bible memorization as a child, by ministry, by water baptism, by abstaining from certain sins, or by trying to keep God’s directives according to my ability. It was offered to me freely.

I had death coming for me as the fair consequence of my own sin; but God, hearing the sprouting of the tiny seed of faith HE had planted, gave me instead grace for salvation as a gift [Romans 6; Ephesians 2]. I see salvation as a road to life revealed by faith, well-marked with the Word of God and the added testimonials of those who travel this road from Abraham to the last generation.

Outwardly, salvation it is a narrow and winding road, full of obstacles and blind corners for the exercise of faith and teamwork to overcome. The way of salvation includes challenges to train us in true righteousness and love for one another. For the first time, we can live free from entanglements of sin that kept us always looking out for self at the expense of others. For the first time we are aware of the love of God filling us and overflowing to others like a Niagra-sized waterfall, so that it is impossible not to love. Like a young child is innately sensitive to its parents’ feelings, the newly reborn soul is exquisitely sensitive to God’s heart and turns to God with every question, cry, and joyful dance.

In the way of Salvation, we practice applying the Word to protect our soul from temptation in a proactive way. We strive to avoid sin not out of obligation, but because we remember how it held us prisoner, chained, gagged and in death’s queue. Not only do we avoid sin, but we desire to see it completely wiped from the world like the dreadful disease that it is. No matter where I am, what I own, who I know, or how life is going, I remain free. If I hear condemnations of guilt or shame enter my mind, I look to my Father to examine my heart and mind and to make any necessary adjustments.

As we continue, our faith grows and changes our thoughts, restructuring our minds as we remember God’s faithfulness and promises, and as we share the joy of our salvation with others. Our Lord has also planned surprise provisions of rest, nourishment, and encouragement to strengthen us between the most difficult segments. Inwardly, these experiences of God’s way replace our dead hearts with the heart designed for us by the Creator. He delights when we internalize and apply His Word and wisdom, getting to know His heart. He enjoys hearing our prayers and processing as he prepares us meet Him face to face. With God… is the ultimate destination.