One Thing is Necessary for Salvation

If you’re running the Christian race, are you certain you’re on the ACTUAL path that leads to salvation?

I used to love watching Peanuts cartoons, both as a kid and as an adult. Charlie Brown just never seemed to be able to catch a break despite his best intentions.

In “You’re the Greatest, Charlie Brown”, he’s competing against his fellow classmates in a Decathalon. During the final competition, the 1500 meter race, he pulls out ahead of the other competitors to his great delight.

For the first time in his life, it appears that he may actually win something! Enamored with the premature thought of victory, he closes his eyes, head held high and continues speedily along the path that he started on. Oblivious to the turns in the track that leads to the goal, he continues to press forward…on the totally wrong path.

His friends notice the miscalculation, and frantically attempt to alert him to the grave mistake he’s making before it’s too late.

Unfortunately, Charlie Brown’s self-consumed thoughts of praise and glory have drowned out the sound of everything - including the warnings from those that can see the disaster unfolding in real-time.

One friend in particular, Peppermint Patti, desperately continues to try to grab his attention long after he’s missed the initial turn. But Charlie Brown happily continues full speed ahead into the deceptive la-la land of his own making.

As Peppermint Patti helplessly watches him run off into the wrong green pasture, she holds her head in her hands, at last lamenting, “Good grief! He ran off the track! He lost the race!”

The Apostle Paul likened our earthly journey to a race as well in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and 2 Timothy 4:7.

So what are you running toward?

Is your end goal to lead a good, successful life? Is it to leave a legacy for your children? Is it to have an impactful ministry? To make a name for yourself? To get into Heaven?

In the book of Luke we find a very insightful story of two sisters, Mary and Martha, and how they related to Jesus.

Luke 10:38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha was busy with the work of ministry, the activity of serving others. In and of itself, it was a noble calling. As followers of Christ, we are called to serve others, and we should do that…except when it becomes a substitute for intimate fellowship with the Lord himself.

Serving in this case was a distraction from something far greater! Not only did it cause Martha to become disgruntled, but she tried to convince the Lord to force her much wiser sister to pull herself away from HIM as well.

Martha was like soil who allowed the implanted seed that fell around her to be choked with thorns. (Matthew 13:7)

Mary on the other hand did nothing save for sitting in the presence of the Lord and soaking up all his wisdom. Yet, it was Mary that Jesus commended for having chosen the ONE thing that is necessary, the good portion.

Mary chose the Lord himself.

In John 17:3, The living Word defined eternal life as knowing the one true God, and the only begotten Son sent into the world by God, Jesus Christ.

Do you know God intimately?

Both the Greek (ginosko) and Hebrew (yada) words for “know” in the Bible carry the meaning of intimate, experiential knowledge.

The Christian’s goal is not knowing ABOUT God. Or knowing OF Him.

It’s not even the work of ministry (though that inevitably flows out of a close personal relationship with Him).

To answer the question I posed at the beginning of this post, the goal of the Christian life is KNOWING God. Personally.

He CAN be known. He is a God who constantly speaks. But only those with ears to hear can tune Him in.

Have a look at the most terrifying verses written in the Bible:

Matthew 7:21-23 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Do you see that they call Jesus “Lord”?

Do you see the work of ministry, even Spirit-filled ministry that they performed in his Name?

This is not a picture of the unbelieving world.

It’s a picture of Christendom.

And they get turned away from Jesus Christ because they don’t “ginosko” him.

This is Charlie Brown running on the wrong track to his everlasting damnation!

For today’s purpose, consider me Peppermint Patti shouting a warning as loudly as I can.

Before I was awakened to the reality of my true spiritual condition in October 2022, I thought I knew God.

But, I didn’t.

I knew ABOUT God.

I knew a WHOLE LOT about him. You might even say I had his resume memorized. I could quote chapter and verse, and it wouldn’t have made a lick of difference in my eternal destination (Hell) because I had been running on the wrong track all along.

I was busy with consuming knowledge, doctrine, Bible studies, worship music…all Christian stuff. But I was busy consuming the world’s content and perspectives too. I was at enmity with the Most High and didn’t even realize it!

I had heard God speak to me in many ways and on many occasions. I had seen God bless me for years and years.

I honestly thought I was on the path to eternal life. However, I was not. I was entirely deceived.

Knowing about someone is not the same as knowing someone.

To drive this point home, let me explain it this way. Knowing about Winston Churchill because I read his biography, is not the same thing as having personal, intimate knowledge of the man himself. In the same way, knowing about Jesus because I read, study, (or even teach) the Bible, is not the same thing as having a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

Jesus said the same thing.

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Knowing the Bible isn’t going to save you. Only Jesus can do that. He’s the ONE you need to turn to and get to know.

So, don’t be a Charlie Brown.

Don’t be a Martha either.

Be a Mary, and pursue the ONE necessary thing - an intimate, personal knowledge of the true and living God!

The window is closing. Do it now!

If you’re not sure about your salvation or the path to eternal life, don’t waste another minute waiting or wondering about these enormously consequential topics.

Send me a message and let’s talk about it! Time is running out.