March 25, 2009
Deposit
Writing about garbage day yesterday got me thinking about recycling this
morning. In these days of recycling, the practice of paying a deposit for a
container is quite commonplace. Here in Albuquerque it is not that common of a
practice but when I lived in Portland, Oregon it wasn’t unusual to pay a nickel
or more per container.
Once upon a time it was a penny or two. It seems that over time, people needed a
higher incentive to return the containers. It's five dollars for those five
gallon blue plastic jugs that go on water coolers. A lot of people would turn
their noses up at a nickel or a quarter but few throw away a five dollar bill.
It is not just the beverage industry that makes you pay a deposit. I have heard
of grocery stores make you pay for the use of a cart. You pay a quarter or a
dollar for the use of the cart and get your deposit back when you return the
cart to a central area, after using it.
If you rent something, you usually have to make a deposit and produce
identification. You must return the item to get your money back.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a deposit system for salvation? Something we
could hang on to, that would prove we are God's. A deposit that would prove we
have admittance to heaven. Actually, God has given us just that deposit.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
Now it is God who makes both us and
you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and
put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
And you also were included in
Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having
believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a
deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's
possession--to the praise of his glory.
The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is your deposit from God. With it,
you go to be with the Creator forever. You are clearly marked for all in the
heavenly realm to see. No deposit, no return.
The Spirit dwells within you from the moment you accept Christ as your Savior.
It doesn't matter if you “feel” saved or not, God can see the deposit He has
placed on your heart. Your place in eternity is secured if you have the seal. If
you have never truly accepted Christ you cannot be sealed.
While the Holy Spirit seal is invisible to us, there is other evidence that we
can see. Part of that evidence is the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we
live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
No fruit equals no seal. The fruit is the physical realm evidence of conversion
just as the Holy Spirit seal is the spirit realm seal.
Until next time, may you feel the comforting presence of the deposit of Holy
Spirit in your life as evidenced by growing in the fruit of the Spirit.
Blessings and abundance of fruit to all of you!
Darrel Mason