Saved

The sweet, dirty smell of weed rushed out at us when the man opened the door. He looked a little gruff but his approach was not unkind, and so we told him honestly why we were there.

"We are representatives of Jesus Christ, and we felt that we should stop and offer to pray with you." It was true. We were lost, and we passed by the street three times before we finally heeded the prompting to get out and knock on a few doors.

"No thanks, I already prayed today. I'm a Christian, and I'm saved by the blood."

And with that he closed the door.

The irony filled me with questions-saved from what? From weed? Maybe Christ would like to save you from those drugs. Or from a bad marriage. Or from unkind words and bad habits and cheap living. There is a better salvation!

That is what I want to say. If I had the voice of an angel, I would tell Oklahoma that salvation requires us to emulate the Man whose blood saves us.

"Saved" is the word on Oklahoman lips. It's so common, it's almost cheap. It becomes an excuse. They don't need to go to church because they're saved. Don't worry about praying with them: they're saved. So they're living out of wedlock and mistreating their children-what's it to you? They're saved!

But God is saving us for greater purposes. For lasting relationships, for beautiful surroundings, for gracious words, for inspiriting service and uplifting occupations and mighty knowledge. He's saving us from low-living, degrading behaviors, and debilitating thoughts.

Emulation. That is the essence of salvation. The moment we begin to emulate the Savior Jesus Christ, we experience a sanctifying, ennobling change within ourselves. And as our hearts change, our lives change. And then it's infectious. My goodness rubs off on you; yours rubs onto your family; your family blesses your community; and before we know it, the world is a better place.

Salvation is only in and through the Savior Jesus Christ. And the way to enjoy this sacred gift is to become like Him! Read His words, and do His works. Obedience, self-discipline, sacrifice. This is the way.

This is the salvation of Jesus Christ.