Maybe you have noticed that vehicles don’t come equipped with cruise control for steering. It’s a good thing they don’t! No matter how straight the road, the vehicle will drift to some degree and, after some distance, will end up in the ditch. The same is true with our personal walk with the Lord.
Self-Examination
The Bible tells us to examine ourselves, to see if we are “in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5) For the true born-again believer this verse does not call him to doubt his salvation; rather, it calls him to regularly “scrutinize” his heart, lifestyle, and actions to see if he is still “on course” and has not drifted away from the path of obedience to the Lord. This is wise to do.
For the lost, unsaved person, the following list should be a challenge for you to come to the Lord and be born again the Bible way. If a person has already made the claim to have been saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) then the following are some things to consider when regularly examining himself. These are “markers,” of being on the right path.
Some of these are “one-time-only” actions, such as following the Lord in Believer’s Baptism [See On Baptism] Others are ongoing correct attitudes, actions, and evidences of being in His will from which we can stray and lose our way.
Points to Consider
Here are a few for the born-again believer to consider when “examining” himself to see whether he is still walking “in the faith” or has strayed from it:
1. Do you attend church willingly and cheerfully? (Hebrews 10:24-25) If church is a struggle for you to endure, perhaps you are not attending a church that is feeding you spiritually. [See On Spiritual Growth - Part 1]
2. Does the Holy Spirit illumine God’s Word and make it clear to you when you read it? (John 10:3-4; John 16:13) Before you begin to read the Bible, pray and ask God to show you what the verses you will read mean!
3. Do you have a forgiving spirit towards others who offend you? (Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 7:21-23) Please note that your forgiveness of others does not hinder or restrict you in doing your job as an officer! Don’t confuse forgiveness with letting someone get away with breaking the law! [See On Forgiveness]
4. Do you have a teachable spirit with humility (Matthew 18:3) or do you take offense at hearing sound doctrine?
5. Do you enjoy singing praises to God? (Ephesians 5:18-20) You may not have a good singing voice, but remember that God hears what is expressed from your heart, not the tune you can’t carry!
6. Do you agonize over your sin or “backsliding” away from the Lord? (Isaiah 57:15) A cold and indifferent attitude towards your personal sin indicates a very serious problem!
7. Do you openly share the Gospel with others without shame or embarrassment (Romans 1:16; Matthew 5:16) or to you prefer to play the part of an “undercover Christian?”
8. Do you sense that Satan is working against you at every turn? (2 Corinthians 2:11) The devil hates police officers because they are “ministers of God” (Romans 13:1-6)
9. Do you prove your love for God by cheerfully giving of your tithe? (2 Corinthians 8:7-8; Malachi 3:10) Many who refuse to tithe have found out the hard way that God will have it one way or the other. Honoring the Lord with the firstfruits of your income allows Him to bless you in so many ways.
10. Are you willing to give your very life for Christ if persecuted for Him? (Matthew 10:39; Hebrews 12:4)
11. Has the world lost its grip on you? (Matthew 6:19-21) or do you find yourself chasing after its material allurements?
12. Are you obedient and respectful to those in authority over you at work and in other areas of your life? (Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:22; 1 Peter 2:13-14)
13. Does the Lord chasten or discipline you when you sin (Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:19) or do you seem to “slide by” and get away with sin?
14. Do you have a new love for people? (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 2:9-11; 1 John 3:14-15) This is hard to do when you deal with the same recalcitrants over and over, but if you are starting to approach everyone with that attitude, then you are starting to slip. Don’t ever lose your necessary sense of suspicion and caution when approaching people, but be careful not to lose your humanity. “When looking for monsters, we must take care not to become them ourselves!”
15. Has your life experienced a significant change since you got saved? (2 Corinthians 5:17) [See On Spiritual Growth - Part 1]
16. Do you experience God’s direction and guidance in your life (Romans 8:14; John 10:3-4; John 16:13) or do you feel like you’re floundering out there all alone?
17. Do you always rejoice in knowing God as your Heavenly Father in a real sense (Romans 8:15) or does God seem to you to be some unknowable entity out there somewhere?
18. Do you know without a doubt that you would go to the presence of Christ if you were to die right now? (Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:13) [See Are YOU Sure]
19. Do you have a hunger and thirst to grow in the things of the Lord? (1 Peter 2:2) If all you have is “bumper sticker faith” (Christians aren’t perfect; they’re just forgiven) then you need to begin growing up in the Lord! [See "On Spiritual Growth - Parts 1 and 2]
20. Have you dedicated your life to Christ, and are you willing to do what He shows you? (John 10:27; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 37:5) The Lord doesn’t save us so that we can keep doing things our way. (Proverbs 16:25)
21. Do you exhibit the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit in your life? (Galatians 5:22-23)
What If These Evidences are Absent From My Life?
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” – James 2:17-18
The truth is that genuine believers will exhibit these things in their lives, to some degree or another, as evidence of their faith.
It is important to point out that good works do not produce salvation; good works are born out of a changed heart and are the evidence of a truly saving faith.
Those whose lives lack these evidences or “good works” are either openly and knowingly unsaved, or they are lost and unsaved “good, moral, religious people” who wrongly think their good works will save them.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
They have a faith that is dead and will not stand in the judgment because they are trusting in the wrong thing.
If you find these evidences are lacking in your life, and you have no assurance that you would go to be with Christ if you died today, please contact me and I would be happy to help you make this most important decision of your life. If you are saved, may this challenge cause you to begin to examine yourself regularly! Not to doubt your salvation, but to help you stay in fellowship with the Lord!
-Tim.
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