Do you want to get well? Lord Jesus asked this question to an invalid man or in other words useless for 30 years at the pool, near the sheep gate which was rebuilt by Nehemiah at Jerusalem. Before going into detail, let stop at the pool and get some imagination about this event. This is a place where a number of disabled people gathered, where, one was there for 30 years. Even though the crowd was large, Lord Jesus could able to locate or find one invalid person in that crowd. How is it possible and why? One of my friends said, the world is humongous and our God is busy with so many important things, so why do you bother Him for everything, just bring big issues and big problem to God. Scripture says that God is mindful on even invalid or useless person in a large crowd. Have you ever thought, I am so little for God being mindful on me? The most important person in the universe remembers His children. Where ever you are, what ever you are in need of, our savior is mindful on you and me.

Verse 6 says, Jesus saw this invalid man lying there for a long time and asked him, “Do you want to get well? It is obvious to know that person wanted to get well. Then why did Jesus ask him like this? I personally feel that, this is a wonderful compassion questionnaire time in that person life. That was also interesting moment for that man to draw the crowd attention to him. Though he was invalid for 30 years, the moment when Jesus came near to him and asked such a caring question made him valid person in his entire life. The moment of Jesus love and care is not far away, it is so near to us. Let’s focus on Jesus for this wonderful one to one questionnaire moment in our life..

“Do you want to get well?” This is a very simple question, expecting ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, but to my surprise, we see different answer. “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in some one else goes down ahead of one” what does this reply to us? The invalid took the pleasure to explain his situation to Jesus. What a mind blowing truth, some one else goes down ahead of him. This pictures that, when invalid goes with his little strength, there was some one with more strength, this world is mixture of both, have you ever felt, you are of little hope, you are of little strength, you are in midst of no help,you are in midst of lacking? Scriptures says, “Yahweh your God is in the midst of you, a great and awesome God”

Our Savior said to him, “Get up, pick up your mat and walk”. The meeting started with a question and ended with commanding answer. There are 3 commands in Lords answer.
Get up: Enough of your failures get up from your invalid situation.

Pick up your mat: Gather your strength, gather your hope and finally gather your faith in Christian life.
Walk: Do it in action. Walk in His light

Where did the invalid get power to do this? The invalid simply obeyed to Lord Jesus. Verse 13 says, “The man who was healed had no idea who it was”. Without even knowing who Jesus was, the invalid man obeyed to Lords command. The invalid might have felt the power and authority in Lord’s command. He might have sensed Gods mighty power when he started his conversation with Lord in the beginning. How is our time with our Lord? Do you take time to talk to Lord Jesus and explain your situation? Are you in hurry to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with your God? This invalid, unnamed man took time and efforts to spend time with our Lord Jesus, which in turn helped him to sense Gods power and authority and healing in his life.

May God of all wonders help us to get well physically and spiritually and let our Savior find time and place in our life? Amen.

Once saved always saved

Dear Friends,

Since one of my friends raised thought provoking question about his friends(believer) sudden death(suicide) and eternity, with His mighty guidance and constant inspiration, I am writing this small article to connect christian salvation to eternity. I trust in Christ that my finite knowledge on my Savior will help every reader to find the truth in it.

Salvation in Christ is not temporary, it is Eternal. Now the question is what if saved person commit sin? What if they commit lot of sins? Is it possible to be saved and then lose the salvation? The answer is NO, NEVER. JOHN 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE".

Salvation is not a one day act, it is life long act in every believer’s life, and we need holiness, reverence and obedience to retain the joy of salvation. Once we become a child of God, getting adoption to call Him as Abba father, SALVATION will not be taken away from us. So once saved is always saved. No human’s goodness, human works, human morality or religious activity can gain acceptance with God or get anyone into heaven. Eph 2:8, “For by grace, you are saved through faith and this is not of yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD.” When I get saved, I am no longer a sinner, I am child of God, my old nature has been erased and I am new in Christ. What if I sin again, will I lose my salvation? How much sin is too much? Is there any small sin OR big sin? There is NO SCRIPTURAL YARDSTICK given to tell us how many or what kind of sins are enough to void our salvation. I personally feel that, after I trust Christ as Savior, God will never again deal with me as a sinner, all His dealings from that point on will be as a with a son/daughter.

David was circumcised at his young age and got saved, he was a man of His own heart, and Lord heard David words before it came from his mouth. Did David lose his salvation when he committed adultery, murder etc?. No. David lost the joy of salvation. When prophet Nathan said that David sinned against God, David didn’t use his power to hide or20support his unrighteous act instead he yielded for God’s correction and submission. David repented for his sins and reviewed his joy of salvation back in his life. So CONFESSED SIN is always forgiven in midst of His abundant grace.

By saying, once saved always saved, is there a license for a Christian to sin continually and willfully? NO, NOT AT ALL. The Holy Spirit will convict every believer in His won way. Ok, what if a person didn’t have time to repent for his sins???

Scripture says, He (God) chastened every son whom he received, if the believer sins after he is saved, God will chastise him, but the chastisement is not payment for sin, because Christ has already paid for our sins on the cross.

Some may argue with Judas, how about Judas? Did he lose salvation, if once saved always saved, did he get eternity. Judas was never saved in t he first place to lose his salvation. He was an unbeliever from the beginning of his apostleship to its end. (John 6:64, 68-70). He was a devil (John 6:70), devils never get saved. Judas perished never gained eternal life. (John 17:12) and he was called a son of perdition. Judas went to his own place not heaven (Acts 1:28) and finally Judas did not repent to God but felt sorry to himself and chose death instead.

May God of heavens bless everyone not to lose the joy of salvation in our life?
Love and Prayers
DP. Vathani