Absolute Assurance of Saving Spirituality
October 30th, 2023
Absolute Assurance of Saving Spirituality
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6
Over 40 years ago, as a student athlete at Syracuse University I found myself engaged in an extensive and earnest conversation about my newfound conversion to Christ Jesus the Lord.
I was invited to share a meal at the home of a family who were ardent Syracuse Orangemen fans. They are called the Orange today but before SU got wacked upside the head with wokeness we were the ORANGEMEN. The father, mother and the two daughters in the home where I was invited to dine were fabulous and faithful fans and fine people, but they did know the Lord. He was an educator and High school Superintendent. As you can imagine he was overtly astute and a vociferous reader with copious communication skills. In addition, he possessed impressive insights on a diverse number of topics and disciplines.
So here I was a 19-year-old student athlete in deep discourse with an individual 3 decades my senior and a man I personally perceived as a juggernaut in intelligence and life experience. So, when I asked to say grace and shared I was born again, He wanted to examine and explore my grasp of my spirituality. It is plausible that he was challenged with reconciling a reputable hard hitting and tenacious Linebacker loving and living for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Honestly, I was initially intimidated but immediately a confidence that unequivocally came from the Holy Spirit controlled my head and my heart. It reminds me of what our Lord said when we need the words and wisdom to share.
Luke 21:14-15 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
After I shared the Lord’s testimony in my life the host in front of his wife and daughters stated, “I have never met or heard a young man so confident in his convictions in addition to being peace filled.”
According to Psychology Today confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction that one can meet life's challenges and to succeed—and the willingness to act accordingly. Being confident requires a realistic sense of one’s capabilities and feeling secure in that knowledge.
That’s acceptable for the secular but seriously unacceptable and spiritually impoverished for the sacred. For the genuine follower of Christ, we purpose to deliberately discredit and die to a self-centeredness confidence. And We contend and conquer life challenges because we possess Christ’s presence and power. Join me next time as we continue to explore this Christ centered concept of an absolute assurance of saving spirituality.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR