What Is Salvation?

I am part of a global digital missionary group that meets weekly via Zoom for training, reports, and worship led by Adventist World Radio personnel.

It is always a blessing, but little did I imagine how the Lord would use it to profoundly redirect the way I live and work for Him. For the last five years, a relative has been staying in my home. With some trepidation, I agreed to help him as he promised, “It is for a short time. Just until I get on my feet.” I never dreamed it would become a nightmare.

As time passed, his drinking and smoking came to light. I tried different strategies to help him get rid of these habits, but nothing worked. I asked every prayer group to pray for him. I prayed for him, I talked with him, I counseled him, I fussed at him, I offered him professional resources, and I gave him all the facts surrounding his negative habits.

I ignored him, elders visited with him, relatives spoke to him, and his healthcare workers spoke to him. We had daily devotions and prayed together, but still, nothing worked. On that life-changing Zoom call, the theme of the worship segment was titled “Salvation Is Not an Event: It Is a Person.” As we were assigned to our breakout rooms to pray, we were charged to ask Jesus to change us—not to repair us, not to mend or fix us, but to give us new hearts. In addition, we were asked to present Jesus to our contacts, whether they were in our homes, our local communities, or our digital communities. The worship leader said, “If someone is smoking and/or drinking around you, remember this: Salvation is not an event; it is a Person.” How that statement resonated with me. It grabbed and held my attention. And as we prayed together, each one echoed the same sentiment. We had never heard it stated in such clear language, even though we thought the love of God was something we knew about. It does not matter how hard we try, how much good we think we are doing, or how much effort we put forth to try to transform the unbeliever; let us first endeavor to have the Person of Jesus make us anew each day.

This is the Person we need to introduce to others.

Only when this principle is lived out in our own lives will our testimony have power. My relative is slowly accepting this Jesus. Amen!

Pauline A. Dwyer-Kerr