Saved For What?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NKJV)

Salvation is a free gift from God, a gift that comes with requirements. No one is forced to ask for it or receive it for that matter. The consequences of rejecting it are usually made known to individuals (hell) but unfortunately the implications of receiving it are not usually made known to recipients. And that is sad. The Bible says,

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) 

Every born-again believer was bought with a very costly price. Our redemption cost Jesus the most excruciatingly painful and horrific death - death of the cross of Calvary. But He chose the pain, torture, humiliation, separation from God, mockery and ridicule for us. We do not belong to ourselves; our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are saved to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Are you serving Him?

We are called to a life of sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2); a life of putting God first in all situations (Matthew 6:33); a life of godliness and contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). In Colossians 3: 1-3, the Bible says,

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." 

Are you seeking those things which are above? Where is your mind set on - things above or things on the earth? Many people are consumed by the things of this earth that the Holy Spirit warns them about:

• Money - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10). Many people get upset when this verse is quoted. I wonder why. Could it they are caught up in the rat race of this carnal world? It is the Word of God. Please don't argue with God. We need money for necessities but it is very easy to be drawn into a money-focused existence. Then it becomes the end not a means to the end of glorifying God. It becomes an idol; idolatry is an abomination before God.
• Sexual Immorality - "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." (I Corinthians 6:18)
• Lukewarmness - "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth". (Revelation 3:15-16)

These are just a few things that we are warned to stay away from. What are we saved for? To be instruments in God's hands to engage in good works which He prepared beforehand - before the foundation of the world. There are souls perishing, people lost, individuals in bondage, marriages under attack, sexual immorality on the increase, etc. People are calling good evil and evil good. Do you know what you are on earth for? Do you know your purpose or are drifting along aimlessly? Are you deceived by the applause of men and disregarding the approval of God?

My dear brethren, you are saved for a purpose. You are saved to minister to the unsaved, to comfort others with the comfort that God has comforted you with, to minister to the poor, needy and widows, to declare the unadulterated Word of the Lord, to lift up Jesus higher wherever you go and to tell people that Jesus is Lord. (Matthew 25:31-46)

Your occupation is not necessarily your vocation. Your vocation (what God has called you to) is what you shall be accountable for. Seek the face of the LORD and find out what you have been called to for God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

If by chance, you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, you can do that today. The Bible says:

"...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

May you hear the voice of the Lord God Almighty directing you where to go, what to say, what to do, and how to do it everyday of your life, in Jesus' Name. Amen.