Title: Work Out Today's Salvation (Luke 23:43)
Contents
Work out your salvation today (Luke 23:43)
The world is at war right now. There are currently 37 civil wars and wars taking place on Earth. The war that the world is paying attention to is the war in Iraq. I am very concerned that the war between the United States and Britain, a country based on Christian faith, and Iraq, an Islamic state, will spread into a conflict with civilization and a world religious war. What is surprising is President Bush's devout faith. How should we interpret Bush's decision to war by quoting the Bible in his speeches in his daily meditation as well as Sunday worship services?
In any case, it is clear that Christianity must be the salvation of life, freedom, peace, and life in any case (John 8:32,14;27). Even now, we must wake up and pray for world peace and national well-being.
The source of Christian freedom, peace and life is the cross. The cross is the source of salvation. Jesus Christ says “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is the ‘presentity of salvation’. When we say “salvation,” we often only understand that we die and go to heaven. But salvation must be understood holistically. Salvation has three tenses. The first is 'past salvation'. You become a child of God through the spiritual transformation that comes the moment you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Christ (Ephesians 2:8). Another is 'future salvation'. It is the glorious and perfect salvation that is accomplished in heaven after believing in Jesus (8:23). Finally, there is ‘present salvation’. As those who have already believed in Jesus and have been saved (children of God), we hope for the perfect salvation in the future and work out today's salvation in the present.
Eunha Yoo, a Korean who entered the battlefield with the human shield of the Iraqi Antiwar and Peace Team, is a sister who devoted herself as a missionary to the Islamic world. She is said to have said this to her close comrades in the faith as she left for the battlefield.
“As a person dedicated to Islamic missions, in the war started by America, some Christians must go there and die with them, so that someone can do Islamic missions again?
What is the Christian faith to you? Where are you using the blessings and strength you have gained through your Christian faith? Now you too must submit to the spirit of the cross of Jesus. We must work out our salvation today with fear and trembling.
* Prayer: Lord, give me a deep interest in one little person today. Pray for him today and serve him with honesty, truth and love. Help me to silently do what I can do today where there is poverty and suffering, conflict and war. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.