The arm of grace is very long
(J. C. Ryle, "Many Shall Come")
Let us learn never to despair of the salvation of anyone--as long as he lives. Fathers ought never to despair of prodigal sons. Mothers ought never to despair of self-willed, headstrong daughters. Husbands should never despair of wives, nor wives of husbands.
There is nothing impossible with God.
The arm of grace is very long, and can reach those who seem very far off. Let us pray on, and hope on, for others--however unlikely their salvation may appear to be at present. The Holy Spirit can change any heart!
The blood of Christ can cleanse away any sin!
We shall see many in heaven, whom we never expected to see there.
Grimshaw, the famous pastor of Yorkshire, when he died, left his only son unconverted, careless, thoughtless, and indifferent to true religion. The day came when the young man’s heart was changed, and he walked in the steps of his holy father. And when he lay upon his deathbed, one of his last words was, "What will my old father say--when he sees me in heaven!"
"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save!" Isaiah 59:1
I heard a pastor say this morning that sometimes, he thought, that God had placed him in the midst of certain people that would no way ever come to the Lord. Whether they did or not, he reasoned that at least they would have the chance to hear the Gospel and never be able to use 'not hearing it' as an excuse on the Day of Judgment with God.
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6 comments:
Just a phiosophical point: can one be saved and still be prodigal? I feel I've been prodigal in one way or another all my life, but I'm still rock-solid certain that I am bought with Christ's blood. Bought and paid for.
I think as we grow in holiness, contrary to what our early mindset might initially tell us in the Christian walk, the Lord reveals more and more of the sins we weren't even aware of, and presses it upon even moreso when we stumble upon a "pet" sin that may have festered within us from our unsaved state that still tries to break free from time to time. Undoubtedly the struggles against the sinful nature will, as revealed to us by the knowledge of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, keep our specific battles against sin firmly in mind, in ways in which are often troubling and uncomfortable, as they should be, in a sense.
It's certainly healthy to have a clear awareness of the sinful flaws within us, but the alarm should be going off ceaselessly once we to any degree come to a position where we embrace some form of sin continuously again. At least that is how it all works in one aspect from my experience.
Joseph - you are wise beyond your years.
DP - Is it possible? If we are talking about loose living and being sinful as described in the prodigal story that Jesus told....
I would have to say no, I don't think its possible for a Christian to be living in such a way that he would be so estranged from his faith that he go off on a wasteful and wreckless abandonment of such a great salvation.
Stumble from time to time; yes of course. But as Joseph said, the alarms within our conscience should be going off to alert us of our need to repent and turn from the sin.
I will be out of touch until Monday. Mrs. Dawg and I are off to celebrate an anniversary weekend!!
Take care all!
Wayne, be reassured, I wasn't thinking about being "loose" (lovely term) so much as feeling out of step.
Joseph: very perceptive. Thanks.
wayne,
thanks for the post and encouraging words, my father is not saved and I pray for him. every effort we make to reach him is met with a hardened heart. hey, by the way, would love to be on your list of blogs to link to.
blessing brother...
chris
http://chris-kratzer.blogspot.com
DP - I wasn't talking about you...I was refering to the prodigal in the story...he was very loose!
Chris - You are linked Sir!
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