Eternally Redeemed

Post date: Jul 19, 2014 2:34:20 AM

Here’s a question. Have you ever received a word from God but were unable to understand its meaning? This happened to me!

A lady who was a respected member of the congregation that I was attending suddenly stood up during the service and pointed at me saying “God has told me to give you this scripture.” The lady then recited the scripture but provided me with no further information. To my surprise an explanation was given to me through a Christian radio broadcast that I heard the next day. Its announcer first grabbed my attention during the broadcast by calling out my name and then he continued by reciting the exact scripture followed by some instructions from God. The command from God, in short, was to go and share the Gospel of Christ with my family.

Elated, I placed my bible under my arm and trudged off to see my family but to my dismay I got rejected by them, however, not to be deterred and knowing the source of my command I attempted again and again to share my testimony with them without success. Then one day my wife suggested that I should share the message of Christ with my grandfather who at the time was living in a nearby nursing home.

My grandfather was an 80 year old rugged looking Swede with jet black hair who had been a miner for many years. He had been very independent throughout his life but had just recently been confined to a retirement home. I have no recollection of him attending church, reading a bible or even talking to me about Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “…therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

His tough character always intimidated me but both my love for him and the command of God compelled me to approach him despite my apprehension. He greeted me as I entered his room but then he noticed the bible in my hand and said, “Son what is this? I don’t want your Jesus, get out of my room!” His reply was abrupt but somewhat anticipated so I stood my ground, trusted the leading of God and refused to leave. I am not sure what he was thinking about but there was little conversation between us for several hours. He finally emerged from another room clutching his stomach and said, “Sonny my stomach hurts please go home.” I said, “Grandpa, that’s not a stomach ache it’s the Holy Spirit showing you that you need a Saviour.” He lay on the bed clutching his stomach and moaning, then finally he spoke saying, “You pray I’ll receive your Jesus.”

Romans 12:2 “…And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

We talked for awhile following prayer. His stomach ache had disappeared and I noticed that his eyes seemed to be sparkling and during a visit a few days later I found him reading a bible. I later bought him a Swedish translation bible, as a gift, which he enjoyed.

Soon after this experience my grandfather became very ill and was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease. The progression of the disease stole his character, desire to read and eventually his life. The character change was so dramatic that even though his actions didn't support his convictions I was content knowing that his eternal destiny was unaffected since he had committed his heart to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “…and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Many people who I have talked to think that God created man as a two part being (body, soul/spirit) however, the scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:22 as well as my grandfathers experience clearly reveal something different. My grandfather prayed to receive Christ into his heart. This confession redeemed his spirit (salvation). His eyes appeared to sparkle and his sudden desire to read the bible were indications that he was at peace in his soul yet his physical body remained unchanged. The born-again believer is the new creation/ new creature referred to in scripture because of the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. My point is that man is created as a 3 part being (body, soul and spirit).

1 Peter 2:24 “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness: by whose stripes we were healed.”

My grandfather, a believing Christian, died a sick man. It was my understanding of the forgiveness of sins which helped him find eternal redemption but my ignorance of the whole truth, including healing for the body, allowed him to remain sick unto death. The understanding of Christ’s sacrificial death is a powerful truth that will set us free to live a more abundant life. I had only wished that I understood this prior to his death.

John 10:10 “…The thief cometh not, but to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."

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