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However, he said to me something so precious, I will never forget it. He told me that he was praying just now and asked God to be in his heart so that Satan wasn't the boss anymore. He explained that he didn't want Satan to be inside of him and that he wanted God to be there instead. (Hold your judgment please, we didn't exactly teach him that Satan was his boss, but I guess that's how he interpreted it)
As I tried to control my excitement, (and get rid of my guilt from missing this moment), I just let him talk for a bit so that I could be sure of where his heart was. He also asked why his dad asked Jesus to be in his heart when he was little and did it again later. I corrected him and stated that Dad asked the Lord into his life when he was a little boy and later asked the Lord to help him follow God's commands. I explained that you don't need to ask God to come into your life more than once, however, you will need His help daily in order to obey and follow God. Then we hugged and called the whole family to the bathroom to celebrate. We explained the function of the physical heart and the design of the soul (to the best of our abilities) and how we really have the Lord in our souls when we receive salvation.
I have been convicted that it is my responsibility and duty as a mother to teach my children about the Lord Jesus Christ. We know in scripture it says to teach future generations diligently about who the Lord is at all times.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
We want our children to have salvation for the sake of their soul and life purpose. They need a Savior the same way we do and they need a Lord. A Ruler, a Boss, someone in charge to give guidelines and boundaries for their own good and safety. And Someone who loves them with a pure, faithful love more than they can ever be loved by another.
So, where did we get this idea of "asking Jesus into our hearts"? Or that the ABC's of salvation is enough as a one time decision? Where is the repentance and when does asking the Lord Jesus to be your Savior turn into a daily decision to follow Him and listen to His Word.
Salvation is not a super simple process but it is supernatural. Which means we can't control or fully understand it. Salvation comes from the Lord. And PRAISE GOD we are not masters of things we don't understand. The ironic thing about salvation is that we can spend years trying to teach our children about Christ and our child can decide to follow Him, without assistance from us, on the toilet with God. Maybe it's a good thing I wasn't with him, after all? (rhetorical)
The Bible teaches us to walk by faith in this life (2 Corinthians 5:7). That the Holy Spirit guides us in obedience of God's Word (Ezekiel 36:27) And that when we don't respond to conviction of sin, it leads to spiritual death. (Psalm 32:3) We also read that we are called to do and not just hear the Word of God (James 1:22-24).
Of course, most Christians (and I mean people who actually follow after Christ) know this already. But unless you really identify these biblical principles in your home, explain and model to your children what true salvation is, they could be misled for many years about what a relationship with God looks like. It is not acceptable for children or adults to make a decision one time and have no change in their life or heart, to live however you like but put your "church-face" on for Sunday and Wednesday. It is equally unacceptable to teach the religious idea of worship without life change from a relationship. If we are called to follow and worship Christ, we do it all day, everyday (even if we do it poorly). There is no perfection here yet, only persistence.
Daily living with the Lord should show that we have a desire to learn more about the Lord, reading and studying His Word, while seeking fellowship with His people. That out of worship of our Lord, we want to do these things. Not to earn anything and not to work on being more holy. Listening to uplifting media and music because it encourages our soul and keeps our focus on Him, not because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
I don't want to be one to speak legalism into anyone's life. I am speaking merely the truth of the Gospel. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit does ALL the work in your heart, soul, mind, and body (John 16:13-14). From salvation to sanctification to glorification; it's all supernatural and controlled by a sovereign God. The process of sanctification, where God cleans up all the mess in us and makes us holy, happens over time and is completed the day our physical bodies die.
It doesn't happen quickly. Refining takes time.
I used to think that every year of my walk with the Lord should be different and better from the last, but then God reminded of so many examples of scripture where people had to wait years for a promised child in order to learn patience or be persecuted for years in prison in order to learn faithfulness. The point is, He doesn't stop working in you and He doesn't take a break until you need it. If you're exhausted from God working in your life, that's a good thing (painful but good).
With all this said, this morning we celebrated the beginning of a relationship with the Lord. The beginning of individual conviction and communication with the Lord that was led by the Lord. And we should celebrate when someone is moved by the Holy Spirit to make decisions that honor God. However, now we encourage not just admission of sin, belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, and a commitment to follow Him but also repentance of sin (meaning actually turning from sin when God points it out to you) and following Him daily and not just when it's convenient or easy.
We encourage this just by loving Him (with ALL our heart, soul, and might). Keeping our focus right, as witnesses of what He has done in us.
It's a decision as soon as you open your eyes in the morning and prepare to close your eyes at night, whether it happens when you hit your feet on the floor, have your first sip of coffee, or say good night to your family and have a few quiet moments in bed before sleeping. A reflection on who God has been for me in my life. My precious Savior, thinking about exactly what He saved me from. And then seeking what God has for me to do today or tomorrow before making my plans.
This reflection allows for His mercies to be new every morning. And it helps me to talk about him "when I sit in my house and when I walk by the way and when I lie down and when I rise up", whatever I do that He receives glory (Colossians 3:17).
Even in my failures and my dense moments (and we all have them), God is faithful to remind me of what He has done in me and for me through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is able to right my wrongs and forgive my sins and still love me while giving me perspective, understanding, and opportunity for hope in my everyday situations. In His time, He makes all things perfect while perfecting us (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and it brings glory and honor to Him.
Which is the goal of the heart that receives salvation, a heart renewed and repurposed to love the Savior and follow the Lord, thus being a witness and leading to true salvation of others.
