A.M. Heath

It would be nearly 5 years later when I would begin recognizing a great stirring in my heart. I longed for the things of God and in time, He would lead me to a church. I began faithfully attending this church, all while trying to hold tightly to my sins. I would attend almost every Sunday, but my life had yet to change. My pastor was preaching through Romans during this time and it seemed like every single sermon held the same theme, "No Change = No Salvation" I'm near positive that he said those same words in every sermon at some point, or at least that's what the Holy Spirit was bringing to my attention. During this time, I began to doubt my salvation. I remembered well the feeling that I had that night when I was 17 and I walked down the aisle and when I prayed. I remember the excitement. I remember the jitters. But I never remembered forsaking my sin and my self. I don't recall a day after that when I would purposely choose God's ways over my own. No change = no salvation. These words echoed through my mind so often. And it would be these words that would be the theme of my testimony. One night, while listening to the latest sermon from Romans, I finally admitted the truth: I had never changed, therefore I am not saved and will go to hell. I had finally come to grips with the truth and would finally turn my whole life over to Him. 

 

After this moment in my life, I could see a serious change taking place. It didn't happen all at once, although there were some things that did fall off at the moment of conversion.  For the most part I would be growing in stages. This is something the Bible calls, sanctification. Sanctification is a life long process. The thing about being saved is that you WILL go through sanctification. In Romans we learn, "Everyone whom he justifies (saves), He also sanctifies (changes), and those whom he sanctifies He will one day glorify (Heaven)." After only a few months, I could see a change taking place.  A few months later, even more change.  Every so often when I would stop and look back over my life, it wasn't hard to find evidence of the changes that were taking place. How could I change? Because Christ now lived in me, "Behold the old is gone and the new has come." It's the strangest thing, but the things that I used to love, I was growing to hate, and the things that I had once hated, I was now loving. It was impossible for me to hate my sin while I lived in darkness, just like it was impossible for me to have the Spirit of God living inside of me and not change into His image. Although I have come a long way in my walk, I feel that I must clarify that I do and can still sin. But when I do, I no longer love it. When I sin, it literally grieves the Spirit within me. To put it plainly, it feels dirty; it feels wrong. Remember, sanctification is a life long process. No one will reach the end until they reach Heaven.

 

A few years later, the devil would attack my assurance. He would begin to plant doubts in my mind. You see, most Christians can tell you exactly when they were saved. Many know the date, time, place, and some can even remember what they wore. But I knew none of these things. There were several moments of brokenness and sincere prayer.  I'm not sure which one was the "one". For about two years, I would struggle and doubt. And I tell you honestly that it was the most miserable time in my life. One day at the end of a service during the altar call, a member of our church came forward and announced that she needed to be saved. She had believed herself a Christian all this time, but knew some thing was off. In that moment, I had the courage I needed to come forward and announce that I had doubts and I was ready to get this settled. I came forward and was counselled by two ladies from our church. They both did a wonderful job trying to help me see, but it was something that I would have to continue to wrestle with on my own. For the next 36 hours, there was a great battle raging inside of me.

 

 

I began by searching my life for fruit. What proof did I have of being saved? I searched long and hard. I knew that the most common ideas of Spiritual fruit were actually works. Things like church attendance, tithing, and service. I could claim all of those things and I believe the scriptures teach that each Christian should be growing in these areas, but I also knew that these works could be faked, so I didn't dwell there. I searched deeper, looking at things like: repentance, conviction, and growth in the areas that other people could not see. When I had a sinful thought, did I feel conviction? Was I willing to repent of the tough stuff, even when no one else would know that I was involved in such sins? Did I grow in the deeper, more hidden areas of my life? I walked away confused, because I had such strong doubts and yet as far as I could tell, I passed the test. I knew that if I were to plead my case to any person, I would be able to convince them that I was in fact saved. But I didn't want to convince someone else, and I didn't need another person to confirm me. I wanted God, Himself, to confirm once and for all that I was His. My prayer at the end of the night was simply this: Lord confirm me. I felt like Jacob in that hour, clinging to His robe crying out, "Either confirm that I'm Yours or save me! But I'm not leaving until You do one of them!" Jacob too, refused to let go till God blessed him.

 

The next morning, I felt led to pick up a book that my pastor wrote titled, Genuine Conversion. In this simple book he breaks down what it means, or rather what it looks like, to be saved. He compares what the Scriptures actually teach with what common belief says. The book is a simple read which lists what conversion DOES NOT look like compared to what it DOES look like based on the Bible.  At the end of the book, he included a quiz to help the reader understand what kinds of fruit are growing on the limbs of their trees. I went through this book that morning and there were two things that seemed to be repeated on every page.

1: Matthew 7:17-20 A bad tree can not produce good fruit

2:1 John 2:3-6 I can KNOW once and for all that I'm saved and never doubt again. 

First, the verse Matthew 7:17-20 " Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them" This verse appeared so often in the short book that it became all the more clear. Not only can you know if you are saved by the fruit on your tree, but a bad tree (which I assumed that I was, till proven saved) can not produce good fruit, just like a good tree can not produce bad fruit. I searched and searched. I took the quiz.  I begged God to show me my own heart and I was finding ample proof from all around that I was saved.

Second, First John 2:3-6 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked." This verse came in and helped me to see that I can know the truth about my salvation. That God actually wants me to know. It's not His way for believers to doubt. I walked away that morning understanding that I was saved. But this would not be the end of Satan's attack. He had one last ploy.

 

 

Now that I was certain of my salvation, Satan then tried to keep me quiet about it. By twisting Scripture, he reminded me that "pride goes before a fall" and it would be best for me to enjoy my salvation, but just don't tell anyone else about it. His reasoning was that if I stood up and announced that I had security, what if these doubts resurfaced further down the road and I was proven wrong next time? How embarrassing would that be?! I had to admit, he had a point. And being my enemy, he knew my weakness was my pride. I didn't want to tell everyone what I had discovered, only to be wrong and have to renounce it. I stood in my bathroom and prayed, "What if these doubts come back? What will prove me next time?" I felt the Spirit speaking to my heart saying, "The same thing that proved you today will prove you tomorrow." And in that moment Satan's hold on me was finally shattered. 

 

I know I'm saved, not because I can remember the moment I prayed a prayer, but because I have ample proof of being sanctified every day since then. I don't remember the day I was justified, but I have intimate memories of being sanctified, and therefore I can KNOW that I will one day be glorified.   The devil doesn't sanctify and God doesn't change a person before He saves them. God proved my relationship with Him was real by reminding me of all the changes He had made in my life.  He doesn't work out of order.  First he justifies, then He sanctifies, and later He will glorify! Satan's attempts to keep me quiet about my testimony only showed me how powerful my testimony really was. I love to share it now!

 

If you have any questions or concerns, I encourage you to send me a message. I would love to talk with you further. If you are interested in getting a copy of the Genuine Conversion book that I read through (which I highly recommend), please don't hesitate to ask. I would love to send you a copy free of charge!