Marian
Scriptures:
Ephesian 1:13 2 Timothy 2:19
John 6:22-40 Zechariah 12:10 Mark 2:5 Zechariah 3:4 Suggested extra reading: Ephesians chapters 1 to 3
Apart from the Bible, do you have a favourite book that has impacted your life since childhood? For me, that book would have to be Pilgrim’s Progress.
I first heard about this book when I was five years old. It was a dark winter afternoon and our teachers took the whole school across the road to the church to hear a man who had come to tell us about the life of John Bunyan, and how he had written this amazing book during his years in prison in Bedford. Afterwards, the young choir boys from the Boarding School attached to the church, taught us the Bunyan hymn: “He who would valiant be”. Still a favourite of mine today.
Since then I have read the book several times, both the original version, as well as the various modern translations. It is a truly amazing story which captures the Biblical message of salvation in wonderful picture language that leads us along the narrow way, sometimes smooth, but most often meeting with difficulties as well as difficult people. For me, this book captures the story of life, salvation and walking with Jesus.
Last week, among her listed Scriptures, Annie chose Ephesians chapters 1 to 3. I would suggest that these three chapters are well worth reading again if you have time. They hold amazing truth. The Apostle Paul grasped so fully the only way unto salvation. I am certain that these are some of the chapters that influenced John Bunyan as he wrote the Pilgrim’s Progress.
Ephesians 1:13 says, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Paul speaks of ‘the seal of God’ in the context of foundational truth. Only through repentance before the cross of Christ can we receive the promised ‘seal’, given to us by Holy Spirit, our precious ‘Helper’.
In his second letter to Timothy, Paulwarns that false doctrines are circulating as some people seek to destroy the faith of believers. However, he follows this with great encouragement: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness’” (2 Timothy 2:19).
In John 6:27 Jesus Himself tells His disciples: “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus Himself was first to receive the seal of His Heavenly Father as He came up from the waters of baptism during His earthly life? This seal, gave Him the authority to perform miracles and walk through the pain of Gethsemane and Calvary for you and for me. When our names are written in Heaven, and the seal of our Heavenly Father is written upon our forehead, then we too can be assured of our salvation. Let us take a look at words from Pilgrim’s Progress as Christian came to the cross on the hill: “Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which CHRISTIAN was to go was fenced on either side with a wall; and that wall was called "Salvation".
Up this way, therefore, did burdened CHRISTIAN run; but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as CHRISTIAN came up to the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was CHRISTIAN glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, And life by his death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks. (Zechariah 12:10) Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three shining ones came to him, and saluted him with, "Peace be to thee!" so the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee"; (Mark 2:5)the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment; (Zechariah 3:4) the third also set a mark in his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, (Ephesians 1:13) which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate: so they went their way. Then CHRISTIAN gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing: "Thus far did I come laden with my sin, Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in, Till I came hither. What a place is this! Must here be the beginning of my bliss! Must here the burden fall from off my back! Must here the strings that bound it to me crack! Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me!"
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that the moment we knelt in repentance at the foot of the Cross of your One and only beloved Son, we were sealed by Holy Spirit to spend all eternity with you. This truth is beyond our comprehension and no amount of gratitude could come near to being enough. However, in our human frailty we come before You now and say, “THANK YOU FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.” AMEN
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