Sitting down and mediating on God’s goodness, I began to think about a song “When I Think About The Lord.”   It reminded me of the benefits of being His child and what He has done for me. 

Growing up in church, I heard plenty of messages on salvation.  I recall at a very young age hearing messages of how God through His son Jesus came and died on a cross to save mankind of their sins…and mine in particular.  I recall listening to passionate preachers and Sunday School teachers share how the goodness of God had saved them and I too should allow Him to save me.  Well, what’s a young boy suppose to do but hear the testimony of trusted people and place my full confidence in the saving power of Jesus. 

Now, this isn’t a story of how, after I grew up, I realized that they really didn’t know what they were talking about.  It isn’t about how I came to the conclusion that they were well meaning people who just didn’t have all of the facts.  No, this story goes even deeper than that.  It’s about realizing that my salvation was not just a “get into heaven” or a ” get out of hell free” card.  There is more to the work of the cross than just knowing that when I die, I am going to my sweet home in the sky.

When I look at the scriptures, it clearly shows that Jesus did not just suffer the most horrible indecency ever perpetrated on one man so I could get a mansion in the clouds and streets of gold.  How dare we think that the King of the Universe would give up the splendor of Glory to be born of a human woman, live a life of constantly being misunderstood, and then ultimately dying a death that was not fit for any human, let alone the Creator of humanity just so I could have a pie in the sky.  No, my friends, if that was the case, I wholeheartedly believe that there would have been an easier way.

Several times in scripture we find a statement that I believe is very misunderstood.  In the Old Testament and the New Testament, specifically quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost, we hear that, “Whoever would call on the name of the Lord would be saved.”

I have kept The Balm of Gilead from becoming an exegetical dissecting of the scriptures because I didn’t believe the purpose was to do that but to bring the Spirit of the Word and a greater understanding of the heartbeat of our Father.  My heart has always been, because I believe it is what God has given me a passion for, to expose people to the Truth of the Living Word, JESUS CHRIST.  I believe that true healing…body, soul, and spirit….can only come through a direct encounter with the Healer. 

Which brings me back to my original reason for writing to you today.  The Greek word for “saved” in this scripture is “sozo” which not only means the erasing of sins, but also healing, peace, and delivered.  Another Greek word, “diasozo” means to save, heal, and delivered COMPLETELY!!! 

Friend, you weren’t meant to be just rescued from certain destruction in Hell, you were meant to have complete salvation…. free from sickness, pain, torment, disease…a reversing of the curse. 

Take a moment today to meditate on His goodness.  Ask Holy Spirit to show you what part of that salvation means for you today.  While you’re doing that, listen to this song, When I Think About The Lord.  This version is done by Rita Springer, who is one of my favorite artist.  When you listen to this song, you understand that she gets it.  My prayer is that you will get it too and walk in your complete salvation given to you by Christ Jesus.  If you’re reading this and you don’t have that complete salvation through Christ our Lord, then all it takes is a surrendering of you heart to His will.  If we can pray for you, contact us at thehealingbalm@gmail.com   

We love you Friend!!