A Lifetime of Dedication

https://odb.org/MY/2022/08/23/the-course-of-a-lifetime

We all know salvation is by the grace of God through the death and resurrection of Christ. We all also know that salvation can be at the last minute just before we breathe our last. The criminal who was crucified with Jesus who believed in Him was saved by Christ. While it is not for us mere humans to question the wisdom of the last minute acceptance of the grace of God, it is certainly fraught with risk as we don’t know when exactly is our last breadth and we may not be in full control of our faculties as we approach the last stages of our life. For example, we could be mentally incapacitated or in coma. Perhaps we could still repent of our sins then or perhaps it’s too late already.

The bible actually teaches the other way, that is, as much as grace is available at anytime, it is the lifetime of dedication that is admired and recommended. The reasons could be a few but the most notable I think is that living is not about eternal salvation but about living life with God. We need to survive in this world and yet if we have God, we get to enjoy and partake of His presence in our lives. With Christ in our lives, the heavens and its mysteries are opened to us. The spiritual realm is within our reach as we pray and healing and miracles and signs and wonders follow by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit. Like King Joash during the time of Jehoiada, we could live in the grace and mercy of God like King David expressed in Psalm 23 that surely goodness and mercy shall follow him for the rest of his life as he dwell in house of the LORD forever and ever. We thus become the Kingdom of God. Where we are whether at home, at work or in the church, we are the manifestation of the glory of God.

My dear brothers and sisters, we are all not perfect and sinless and yet we must aspire to live a life of dedication and faithfulness to God, a lifetime of service and dedication. God can take our imperfections and make them good. Christ can turn our weaknesses into strength for His Kimgdom. Let’s look long term, say the next 30 to 50 years to those who are younger – will we live a lifetime of dedication like Jehoiada that the King himself was faithful to God while he lived?