Occasionally I receive emails from individuals who remind me that even though salvation is free we can’t go on sinning as usual. What I want to say but won’t because it wouldn’t be nice is “Duh!” Of course not. If one truly understands God’s incredible gift of grace one would want nothing more than to be like their saving hero. That means by His grace and with His help I will do all I can to be “good.” The key here is motive. I am now wanting and trying to be good not to be saved but because I am saved. The real fruit of a Christian life is that which comes because more than anything we want to be like Jesus!
When I was a little boy I wanted to be like Roy Rogers. I had a double holster with two cap gun six-shooters. I used to stand in front of a mirror and would see how fast I could draw those guns. I had seen a movie when Roy drew them like lightening and that is what I wanted to do.
“Now that I have put away childish things” I still want to be like my hero. Except now instead of my hero drawing a six-shooter He draws something so much finer. My Jesus draws pictures of His perfect character on the canvas of grateful souls who know there would be no possible way for them to have eternal life other than by grace.
The tone of the emails I receive are almost like people are afraid someone will be saved and still get away with doing something bad. Well, we will, but not because we want to. It is just because God is still working on that canvas!
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 20, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574.
Rogerbothwell.org