BENCHMARKS OF BELIEF

Ephesians 6:17 bids the believer to “take the helmet of salvation.” Obviously, a helmet is a piece of clothing that protects the head. Zodiates says of Salvation, “it is the spiritual and eternal [possession] granted immediately to those who place their faith in Christ” (Key Word Study Bible, 1760). Thus, one of the functions of the helmet of Salvation is the protection of the believer from the attacks of Satan in regard to his or her assurance of Salvation (McArthur Study Bible). Satan longs to defeat each believer, thereby limiting his or her effectiveness in the Lord’s service. He may entice the believer into fleshly pursuits resulting in sin and the loss of testimony. He may simply plant the seeds of doubt regarding one’s standing before the Father, thereby rendering the believer powerless with regard to service. For whom Satan cannot disqualify by misconduct, he will seek to debilitate through doubt. I know, because I have experienced this tactic firsthand.

I John has often been regarded as the "Epistle of Assurance." Tucked within this letter to churches in Asia Minor are ten benchmarks of belief by which one may measure the genuiness of his or her salvation. A benchmark is simply “a standard by which something can be measured or judged” (www.dictionary.com). These benchmarks are provided to help the believer realize his or her assurance of salvation by noting the fruits of salvation that are present within his or her life. They may also serve to convict the one who merely has an empty profession of salvation. I challenge you to check yourself against these benchmarks of belief by asking yourself the following questions.

Benchmark 1: Am I walking in obedience, striving to keep God's commandments? (I John 2:3)

Benchmark 2: Do I love the members of the family of God? (I John2:10, 3:19, 4:7-8)

Benchmark 3: Am I growing in Christ likeness? (I John 2:6)

Benchmark 4: Am I drawn to those things that please God rather than those that satisfy the desires of my old nature? (I John 2:15-17)

Benchmark 5: Do I desire that God’s will be accomplished in and through me? (I John 2:17)

Benchmark 6: Do I practice righteousness? (I John 3:6-7. 5:2)

Benchmark 7: Am I growing in victory over sin? (I John 4:4, 5:4)

Benchmark 8: Am I experiencing answered prayer/ (I John 5:14-15)

Benchmark 9: Do I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? (I John 2:22)

Benchmark 10: Is there a time when I truly trusted Jesus Christ the Son of God as my Savior? Is my hope of salvation in Christ ALONE? (I John 5:11-13)

THE IDOLS OF MY HEART

Martha Snell Nicholson penned the following:

Treasures

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most,
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highways, grieving.
In my rags and poverty.
Till I heard His voice inviting,
"Lift your empty hands to Me!"

So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
Till they could contain no more.

And at last I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God COULD NOT pour His riches
Into hands already full!

I first became acquainted this poem in the form of a song during my years in Bible College. Often one of my Profs would have us open class by singing those words. To be quite honest the first and many of the subsequent times I heard it, it struck fear within my feeble heart, and I began to view God as primarily a taker rather the Giver of good gifts (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17). My image of God was unworthy of the great God that He is. As I grew into adulthood, my fears grew along with me. The result was that I began to cling to those things I valued most – relationships, grades, and, in particular, my Mother. Driven by fear and worry, I distanced myself from God, while going through the motions of a daily quiet time and my Christian walk. Because of a very difficult situation, I lost the GPA that I had valued so highly. Friendships I had valued became inaccessible. In the midst of it all I watched my Mother struggle with life-threatening heart-related episodes until the final illness resulted in her home going in January, 2001. In retrospect, I believe those losses were from the hands of loving Heavenly Father who wanted to meet my needs Himself rather than allowing me look to other sources outside of Himself. A well known Christian speaker once defined idolatry as “trusting things or people to do for me what only God Himself can do.” Yes, I was an idolater, but my Heavenly Father loved me too much to allow me to continue in my self-destructive behavior. His actions toward me have never been punitive, but rather designed for the restoration of my walk with Him. For, He knows that He alone can effectively meet my needs. He will fill my hands with His treasures as I allow Him to have His way.

God has His best things for the few
Who dare to stand the test.
He has His second choice for those,
Who will not have His best.
A.B. Simpson