pramsay posted on December 20, 2007 09:55
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One Thing to Be Sure About
Today it’s different. Back then it was horrible. To be born blind was to live a life of hardship, rejection and poverty. Think of the shame and humiliation of daily having to pester others for something to eat. Being the unattractive town nuisance was the only way to survive. Blindness meant rags, loneliness, hunger, shunning and discrimination – not to mention the daily darkness of the absence of light.
It couldn’t have been a more incredible day. A very kind, compassionate and noble stranger stops and stoops downward. With his own saliva he mixes some clay and pastes it to the beggar’s eyes. When last had anyone cared enough to touch his eyes? Something was happening. Says the gentleman to the blind man: “Now go and wash it off in the Pool of Siloam.” Was his heart pounding with anticipation as he blindly walked to the pool? He splashes the mud out of his eyes and ….. and …. and what? Instantaneously and wonderfully a new day dawned in his experience. His life would never be the same again. The darkness was gone. Light burst in. What he never saw before he now saw clearly. Light, blue sky, green shrubs, the pool, the people, the scrawny dogs, the shops – you name it and he saw it!
Then the questions started. Who did it? How did it happen? Explain the logistics. Give us the details.
Give the man a break, please! It’s all so new to him – let him spend some time celebrating! But no – he was peppered with intimidating questions from the hostile authorities. Finally he said to them:
“One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.”
John 9:25
Later, the man learned a few more things beyond the one thing he knew. The more he found out, the more he appreciated the gentleman who touched his eyes – the Christ Himself. Once a blind beggar; now a happy worshipper.
Spiritually, do you have a moment when your darkness was turned to light? You may be missing some details and you may feel your story doesn’t measure up to others. You may feel intimidated by the questions people ask about your conversion. You may think that they think that you only ‘think’ you’re saved. Do you find that unsettling?
Get back to the basics: once darkness – now light; no attraction to Christ – now you love Him; once burdened by sin – now released and free. You may not remember a time on a clock or a date on the calendar. You may not recall what clothes you were wearing or whether you brushed your teeth that morning – but do you remember when the mud came off your eyes and you blinked a few times and then the light shone in? Some of the details may have faded from your memory and perhaps even your love for Christ has faded some or a lot – but do you recall that first stirring in your heart when you appreciated Christ like you never did before?
People can doubt their salvation for a variety of reasons: depression; faulty doctrinal teaching or a misunderstanding about Christian living; unconfessed sin or disobedience; coldness due to neglecting daily personal communion with the Lord or the simple fact that they just don’t know Christ and never have!
Your spiritual life will be stunted if you are plagued by doubts. Get alone with the Lord. Tell Him what you need to tell Him; open His Word and let Him speak to your heart. Apply His Word personally to yourself.
Your eternal salvation is one thing you can be sure about and you need to be sure about. Once you have eternal life – you can never lose it. In Christ forever!