October 14, 2024 -All on the Same Playing Field

JEREMIAH 23:21-25:38

2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-17

PSALM 84:1-12

PROVERBS 25:15

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Jeremiah 25:3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

4 And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. 5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. 6 Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

I am struck by God's patience. Yesterday I wrote about trusting God and the fact that anyone can turn to Jesus in their last breath and God will know their heart and they will be saved. Look at how patient God was with the Israelites. Over and over again He told them to turn from evil back to Him. Over and over again in the Old Testament we see that God calls His people to Him and they don't listen. But He honors their old covenant and when the people humble themselves and turn back to God He saves them.

2Thessalonians 2:10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Those who refuse to turn to God are those who perish. They "refuse to love the truth" and we all know that Jesus is "the Way the Truth and the Life". And those who believe in Him are under the New Covenant in His blood which is a free gift of His grace. He is patient and even at the last minute like the thief on the cross anyone who calls out to Him and turns to Him with all their heart will be saved.

Rick talked about assurance of salvation and used many of the verses referenced today and yesterday and well as some from 1Thessalonians which we just finished reading. He pointed out that some people may not like the idea of someone like the thief being saved at the last minute. But as Christians we are all on the same playing field no matter when we come to faith. There is nothing that any of us did to deserve salvation. We are all undeserving. My mind went down another path with the playing field. I thought about kids in any sport. You have kids that are really passionate and they practice all the time and give 100% every game. They are the "star" players and get a lot of game time. And then there are those kids who are just happy to be on the team and are content to show up for the practice and games but don't have the drive to put in all the extra work. It may not be that they don't want to improve but it's just their nature to be more content where they are. These kids get very little playing time. But they are all on the same team and they all celebrate the victory. Isn't that the way it is in the body of Christ. There are those who are excited and passionate and are constantly studying and pursuing more knowledge and deeper relationship with God and there are those who are happy to know Him and are grateful for His grace but they don't have the outwardly visible drive to pursue more. They are content in the blessed assurance of their salvation. They are still on the team and show up to practice but don't have the drive to do more. There are also those who came to Christ early and get a lot of game time in and those who join the game at the last second and only play for a short time but they all get to celebrate the victory.