Have you ever thought about that before? At some point in my walk with Christ - many years ago - I wondered inside but never asked anyone or sought to find an answer with the sort of urgency that I should have had concerning such an important theological question..
We know that one can only be saved by trusting on the name of Christ - “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12)
And don’t misunderstand: “believing on his name” doe NOT mean that you simply believe that Christ and his resurrection are mere historical facts. The Bible says that “the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19) Intellectual ascent does not equate to believing upon Christ for salvation, committing to him your life and trusting in him for salvation.
But how could one believe on the name of Christ if they had never heard his name?
There are a few points here that are noteworthy.
1. Jesus has been “in existence” for all time: from eternity past to eternity future.. Although we didn’t have a human encounter with him until he came to earth being born to the virgin Mary over 2000 years ago, he is God’s son and always has been. It’s difficult to wrap your arms around, isn’t it? Thinking along these lines evince questions like “well where did God come from?” I have thought about that many times. And I am by no means a biblical scholar. But I know this: first, I realize that God’s thinking is different than mine and yours. There is a limitation in our ability to “see” the world and the God of the universe. Infinity and eternity are concepts that are outside of our life experience and scope of thought. Second, the Bible tells us that “the secret things belong unto the Lord our God.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) Next, we must believe by faith. But our faith is not blind. Believing on Christ is a logical and reasonable thing to do based upon the Gospel, history and the hundreds of prophesies fulfilled. I have heard many saints say that it would take far more “faith” to NOT believe in Christ than it takes to place one’s trust in Him. There were dozens and perhaps hundreds who saw with their own eyes His execution by means of crucifixion, his burial and - three days later - watched him walk the earth, fellowship with his disciples - and ascend into the heavens in glory and unspeakable light. That - my friends - is the God of the universe.
2. Abraham - and any and every other Old Testament person who believed on Christ - is in Heaven today. But - you may ask - how could he have believed on Christ if he didn’t even know Christ’s name? “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was COUNTED UNTO HIM for righteousness” (Romans 4:3) We see something very special here - something very noteworthy: Abraham was NOT trusting in his own works or goodness for salvation. Although he didn’t know Jesus’ name, he knew that his own works were not sufficient for salvation. He knew that the key to being in fellowship with God is by having faith in Him for salvation. And what is faith? I think the scripture says it better than I ever could: “Abraham believed God.” Very simply, he took God at his word. Isn’t that wonderful!? He just believed God. There’s so much application for you and I to take away from this simple lesson of truth. We must believe God and his Book of promises. After all, think about his reliability in your life - and in mine. I mentioned to my brother the other day - that if God played baseball (and I don't mean that irreverently) - he’d be batting 1.000. He never misses. He never fails to answer a prayer. Think about his credibility. He’s never lied and the Bible says he is indeed, incapable of lying. It is outside of God’s character to lie. Moreover, the Bible says that he is interested in our good - and that he desires that no one should be without him.
II Peter 3:9 reads thusly:
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
You see that? It is reaffirmed that “God is not slack concerning his promises”. I just love that. Beyond the shear beauty of the language, one finds comfort and solace in the reality of its truth. Moreover, though, Peter tells us the truth I earlier mentioned: He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
3. God is unwilling that his prized creation - you... and I - should deny him - or remain “silent” concerning his offer of salvation and relationship with us. There are presently some seven billion persons on the face of this earth. Nearly 350,000 people are born each day - and nearly 150,000 people die per day and - as hard as it may be to conceive - God knows each and every one through and through. The Bible says that He has the hairs on your head counted. And that IS a fact. When one hair falls out, He knows. If He knows that, be assured that He knows all about the content of your heart. He knows where your real love lies. And to use the parlance of Hollywood, He really “knows what you did last summer.” You can keep nothing from Him and you cannot hide yourself or your heart or anything else in a closet. The Bible says it will all be “laid bare” before Him on Judgement Day (II Peter 3:10).
And we’ve talked before about Abraham. The Bible tells us that he (Abraham) received a message from God: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:22)
What did Abraham do in response to this seemingly unspeakable request? He obeyed. He believed God. Which one of us - if presented the same situation - would be willing to obey God and just take Him at His Word? I realize it’s not a realistic hypothetical. We do not live in the same day. Thankfully, God doesn’t make those types of requests of us.
Here’s what he does command: “I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.” (Romans 12:1) In short, we are to devote ourselves to God’s business, which God says is a reasonable request. You might ask: “why is it reasonable for me to give my life to God?”
I respectfully submit to you: He bankrupted Heaven by Christ’s shed blood for you. And if you - you who are reading these lines - had been the only one for whose sin Christ was needed, God would have sent Him to the cross just for you... just for me.
God bless you tonight. Take God at His word. Trust Christ for salvation and Him alone and serve Him with all of your heart. Then tell someone else you did. He will change your life for all time, as He has mine.
I love you tonight. Please let me know if you have any questions about these passages, if this message has blessed you - or if I can be praying for you in some way.
Rudy
