They seek him here, they seem him there… Why is it today, when we have instant access to learn all we want to about the Bible and our faith, do so many of our fellow Christians seek their salvation through men?
What do I mean by salvation by other men? It’s pretty simple: many people today are desperate to be made to feel safe and to in fact be saved, and they almost invariably seek it from other flawed men or women. This strange phenomena begs the question of why any Christian would ever be so confused or unsure as to who is our one and only true Savior — but I’m not sure there is any real clear-cut, single answer to that question.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12
The Bible is truly amazing and pretty much filled with all that we need to know about our faith, isn’t it? Acts 4:12 is just one of many passages that takes away all of the guess work: The only Savior, is Jesus and while our fellow man may help us on some levels,they can never provide the kind of safe haven, peace and tranquility that God does and, they can never offer us salvation, as that comes only through Christ.
“Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.” – Psalm 146:3
Thus says the Lord,“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” – Jeremiah 17:5
Why do many among us, primarily those who claim to be the most faithful, always turn to a corrupt politician to “save” them? Why do some Christians who who openly boast of their time spent in Church, seek their salvation from celebrities or egotistical CEO’s with a social media network? If they’re so faithful and dutiful in their worship, wouldn’t they immediately put all of their trust and faith in God and turn to Jesus for their absolute salvation? Wouldn’t they know that only God can provide the ultimate solutions and protections?
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8
Its normal for all of us to sometimes worry and feel anxious and that goes for even the most devout Christian. However, I have a real concern for many of our Christian brothers and sisters who have let themselves be dragged into the raging sea of politics and “current events” — because in that sea, there will never be peace and salvation, and no mere mortal man can ever provide it, no matter how powerful they appear. If one has true faith in God and His plan and accepts that He does not want us to worry, then our immediate response to the tribulations of this world, should be to take refuge in the Lord and let Him calm the raging seas.
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” – Psalm 57:1–2
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Hallelujah!)” – Romans 8:38-39
I don’t believe that Christians need to avoid politics or current events, but we most certainly should not let them negatively impact our faith. Once we let ourselves be led astray from the tenets of our faith because of man-made strife and tribulation, we’re on the wrong path. Our path is clear and it is one that is paved with love, compassion, courage, generosity and faith.
