Remember that comment someone once said to you that seemed to just stick in your head? It was one that at that moment kind of left you with a haunting thought, even though you went on talking about something else. It may be one that surfaces at the strangest moments only to leave you with a lingering "what if" question in your mind. What if what they said is something that you need to seriously stop and consider - maybe right at this moment?
I heard one of those statements a number of years ago. The discussion was about a "freedom" that another Christian friend claimed to have. He had found a verse or two in the Bible that he felt assured him that he was right in doing a particular action. The person from whom I was hearing about it then dropped this statement. "But I wonder ... if he is willing to hang his Salvation on it."
Since that time more slogans, popular phrases, lyrics and other trendy sayings than I care to think about have passed between my ears. But nothing has stuck in my mind like that one short question. "I wonder ... is he willing to hang his Salvation on it?"
Of course I realize that if you happen to be from the "can't lose your Salvation" camp you are deciding that now is the time to stop reading. But don't give up just yet. Because I also fully realize and agree that no one's Salvation hangs on any good works they have done, but only on our faith in the work that Christ did on the cross for our Redemption. However, that haunting question to me implied that, what if ... that "thing," "my freedom," "my right," that "whatever" that I am clinging to is actually the "weight" that is keeping me from "running the race that is set before me?" (Hebrews 12:1).
Or what if -- "my freedom" that thing, action, whatever is maybe causing other persons to stumble as they endeavor to run their race? What about that? What does God think of such things? Can I really do as I please and go along my merry way ... enjoying "my freedoms?" Am I willing to hang my Salvation on ... my right — or my freedom?
Am I willing to push aside the leading of the Holy Spirit; am I willing to toss away God's peace and replace it with my pride of doing it "my way?" Am I willing to risk failing to be obedient and submissive to God's plan for my life? His plan may not include my enjoying that particular "freedom" because just maybe, God knows that it will cause me to grow weak — or cause someone near me to stumble?
