Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb. 7:24–25
Dear Lord Jesus, driving into my home state recently, I came upon a billboard that pushed some buttons and raised some ire. Just through the mountains of North Carolina, there it was, in bold, big, red letters: “Are You Saved?”
My first response was, “What an un-cool cost-ineffective out-of-date way of doing evangelism. People who put up highway signs like that are clueless about the best ways to impact the emerging generations with the gospel. They’re usually legalists and moralists, with no clue about a theology of imputed righteousness. They’re culturally disengaged and don’t realize what a turn-off that kind of signage is.”
But then your Spirit gently disrupted my missional tirade with this thought: “You completely avoided the question. Are you saved?” Boom! Convicted of my arrogance and convinced of your kindness, I continued driving, but with fresh joy.
For, indeed, I am saved, Jesus—unabashedly and unashamedly so. And there’s only one reason and there’s only one basis: I have come to God through you, for you have done for me what I never could have done for myself. You are the permanent priest who offered the perfect sacrifice for our sin, once and for all. Your life and death were given in substitution for us, and now I wear your righteousness and enjoy your advocacy before the Father.
Salvation cannot be found anywhere else but in you. You completed your work on the cross and you will thoroughly complete your work in me. O, the peace and comfort this brings to me. Am I saved? Most definitely and most delightfully!
Jesus, I don’t have to like highway billboards, but may I never ever tire of responding to the question “Are you saved?”, for there’s no question more humbling to me and honoring of you. You live forever and forever you live to save your entire pan-national bride. Hallelujah, what a Savior! Hallelujah, what a salvation! I pray with great gratitude, in your merciful and mighty-to-save name. Amen.
