Jesus, the conviction that I now have and will always need

If we don’t learn from history, history will soon repeat itself.

I remember how convicted I once was to help out in Sunday School. At the time, the pastor was looking for volunteers. He approached me seeking my interest. Since I had just started seminary, I agreed to help for as long as he was there with me. For about a year, things seemed to have been falling in place.

As soon as we were touching on teachings that were in conflict with traditional beliefs, as soon as we had gained a bit of momentum to move beyond traditions, an uneasiness developed. To the pastor, Sunday school was now an entity operating against him. A biblical teaching would make it to the school in the morning, by noon a contradicting sermon would come from the pulpit.

Immediately following my second year leading the school, I reminded the pastor that my time was up and I no longer was available to continue volunteering as before.

I must say that, no one to this day ever continued the development that was engaged when the staff and I were in charge.

When conviction is based on another man’s approval, it’s just a matter of time before it is deflated. When conviction is based on religion, it is very fragile. Any tiny bit of challenge or test sends it crumbling to dust.

When conviction is based on the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the turf is no longer a building built by human hands, but the heart and mind of all those who are thirsty for Jesus.

If God be for us, who can be against us?

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long;we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:28-39)

Your name, Lord, Jesus, is a very good name, Amen.