Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
It's accepted by millions as a "Christian" idea, but it leaves them confused and spiritually paralyzed, and they don't know why. Maybe you're one of them, wondering why you're so worldly when you really want to be on fire for Jesus. It's associated with the "predestination" idea some have that Christ died only for "the elect," and He predestinated everybody else to be "lost." They reject the "predestination" idea because they know the Bible says Christ died for "all," and He offers salvation to everybody, but they say that the sacrifice of Christ doesn't do anybody any good unless he first believes. In other words, no one realizes any "benefits" from His sacrifice on the cross unless he believes.
Is that really what the Bible teaches? If that idea is true, then your salvation is due to your taking the first step to believe. It depends on your initiative. God's great mechanism of salvation stands idle so far as you're concerned until you press the switch to get it activated for you--it's when you "accept Christ," believe, and keep His commandments, etc. Otherwise, Christ died for you in vain, and you have not realized any of the "benefits" He wants you to have. But is this true?
If it is true, then the lost in the final judgment can shake their fist at God and tell Him, "You didn't do anything for me, all you did was make me an offer; You didn't actually give me anything." But the truth is that the very life they have had while they "enjoy[ed] the passing pleasures of sin" (Heb. 11:25) has been a gift that God has given them by virtue of the sacrifice of Christ. They are already infinitely and eternally in debt to Jesus for all the good times they've ever had, for their food, and yes, for their next breath. They have already realized the "benefits" of the cross of Christ. He "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45), blesses their crops, shields them repeatedly from ruin, sends angels to care for them, and they have received all these "benefits" with unthankful hearts.
The Bible teaches a glorious truth in "the Lord's Supper." Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven, ... and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. ... Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:51-53). Every meal you have ever eaten has been "a sacrament," but those who dis-believe "eat and drink in an unworthy manner, ... not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Cor. 11:27-29).
Thank God it's "today." We can still learn to "discern." Millions of us continue on in daily unbelief, but our next meal gives us, not merely offers, the opportunity to repent and get right with reality--which is Christ. Time to say thanks with total dedication to Him.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 10, 2004.
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