Have you ever read books such as Harry Potter, Sophie's World, Lord of the Rings, and the like? Most people love story-telling and some are very talented enough to write a unique story of their own. Honestly speaking, I admire the talent of some book authors like J.K. Rowling, Jostein Gaardner, and J.R.R. Tolkien. It is good to realize how powerful they were in the world they have created in their own stories. Let us realize for example how J.K. Rowling exercised her power in the world she created -- the "world of Harry Potter".
Based on the story, Harry grew up as an orphan after his parents were killed by an evil wizard when he was yet a little boy. If we're going to symphatize with Harry, we may ask why does he need to suffer those things? Why did the author intend the evil wizard to kill Harry's parents? My realization here is that any author has all the power to do anything over what he/she has created. Here, the author-story relationship will help us realize the following:
1) The author is powerful over what he/she has created.
From our example above, J.K. rowling can do anything on the whole story that she has written. In the story, Harry Potter and the other characters might not be aware that the author was the one who created their world and also unknown to them is the fact that the author herself is the one who decides on who will live or die in a particular scenario in the story.
2) The author is very much knowledgeable over what he/she has created.
One question! Which part of the "Harry Potter" story can we tell that J.K. Rowling does not know about? Of course, there's none. Right? Unless, she has already forgotten some details of what she had written. If we are going to read throughout the whole book, we will notice that no character in the story knows how their world could end up or who will be the one to defeat the evil wizard. But the fact is, even when Harry was still a little boy just before the story began, the author had already purposed that Harry will be the main character and he will be the only one who could defeat the primary antagonist in the story.
3) The author is present and consistent over what he/she has created.
All parts of the story was written by J.K. Rowling and that would only mean, she was always present and was, as much as possible, consistent from the beginning up to the end of the story.
That's enough of Harry Potter from here. I would just like to emphasize that if human book authors, who are not perfect, can exhibit such power over what they have created, then how can we imagine the power of Jesus Christ who is the sole author of our eternal salvation?
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto them that obey him;" - Hebrews 5:9 (KJV)
When Jesus declared these words below in the book of John, He is expressing to everybody that He is the only author of eternal salvation and only through Him can get people saved from eternal damnation.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 (KJV)
And, I certainly believe on what Jesus Christ can do when it comes to our salvation as the Bible also is saying...
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 (KJV)
As the author of eternal salvation, Jesus Christ is...
1) He is all-powerful...
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." - Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
Let's take a look when the time Jesus Christ was crucified.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
As you can observe, Jesus can say absolute things like that because He is the author; and He can save even the most unworthiest man on earth if and only if that man shall call upon His name for salvation.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13
Moreover, eternal salvation is only available for everybody who shall call upon the name of Jesus. If a human author can choose beforehand who shall be protagonists and antagonists upon creating a story, Jesus, who is an all-powerful savior, also chooses whom He saves and whom He would not save.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" - Ephesians 1:3-9
Meaning, only those who will call upon His name believingly shall be saved. We might ask: Is Jesus Christ fair if He chooses only those who would call on His name? How about those who does not know Him? Well, as the author of eternal salvation, we can not question the works of our Lord.
"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" - Romans 9:13-21 (KJV)
2) He is all-knowing...
As the author of eternal salvation, Jesus knows those people whom he will save because He had already chosen them even before the foundation of the world.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." - Ephesian 1:4-6 (KJV)
Most people have accepted Him already as their personal Lord and Saviour. And He knows when shall be the right time for other chosen people to get saved. And the right time is always "according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace". And for those who had already rejected Him, did not accept Him, and will reject and not accept Him in the future were already condemned even before they were born.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18 (KJV)
3) He is all-present and perfectly consistent to what he say and do...
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
Jesus is always present not just in the hearts of believers but in every aspect of their lives.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:27-28
Now, I would like to raise this question...
Do you want to know if Jesus Christ already had chosen you to save you from eternal damnation? Just believe in Him. Accept and trust Him as your personal Lord and Savior and you shall be saved. And afterwards, you already know.
"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." - Acts 16:30-31 (KJV)
Based on the story, Harry grew up as an orphan after his parents were killed by an evil wizard when he was yet a little boy. If we're going to symphatize with Harry, we may ask why does he need to suffer those things? Why did the author intend the evil wizard to kill Harry's parents? My realization here is that any author has all the power to do anything over what he/she has created. Here, the author-story relationship will help us realize the following:
1) The author is powerful over what he/she has created.
From our example above, J.K. rowling can do anything on the whole story that she has written. In the story, Harry Potter and the other characters might not be aware that the author was the one who created their world and also unknown to them is the fact that the author herself is the one who decides on who will live or die in a particular scenario in the story.
2) The author is very much knowledgeable over what he/she has created.
One question! Which part of the "Harry Potter" story can we tell that J.K. Rowling does not know about? Of course, there's none. Right? Unless, she has already forgotten some details of what she had written. If we are going to read throughout the whole book, we will notice that no character in the story knows how their world could end up or who will be the one to defeat the evil wizard. But the fact is, even when Harry was still a little boy just before the story began, the author had already purposed that Harry will be the main character and he will be the only one who could defeat the primary antagonist in the story.
3) The author is present and consistent over what he/she has created.
All parts of the story was written by J.K. Rowling and that would only mean, she was always present and was, as much as possible, consistent from the beginning up to the end of the story.
That's enough of Harry Potter from here. I would just like to emphasize that if human book authors, who are not perfect, can exhibit such power over what they have created, then how can we imagine the power of Jesus Christ who is the sole author of our eternal salvation?
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto them that obey him;" - Hebrews 5:9 (KJV)
When Jesus declared these words below in the book of John, He is expressing to everybody that He is the only author of eternal salvation and only through Him can get people saved from eternal damnation.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 (KJV)
And, I certainly believe on what Jesus Christ can do when it comes to our salvation as the Bible also is saying...
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 (KJV)
As the author of eternal salvation, Jesus Christ is...
1) He is all-powerful...
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." - Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
Let's take a look when the time Jesus Christ was crucified.
"And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise." - Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
As you can observe, Jesus can say absolute things like that because He is the author; and He can save even the most unworthiest man on earth if and only if that man shall call upon His name for salvation.
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13
Moreover, eternal salvation is only available for everybody who shall call upon the name of Jesus. If a human author can choose beforehand who shall be protagonists and antagonists upon creating a story, Jesus, who is an all-powerful savior, also chooses whom He saves and whom He would not save.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:" - Ephesians 1:3-9
Meaning, only those who will call upon His name believingly shall be saved. We might ask: Is Jesus Christ fair if He chooses only those who would call on His name? How about those who does not know Him? Well, as the author of eternal salvation, we can not question the works of our Lord.
"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" - Romans 9:13-21 (KJV)
2) He is all-knowing...
As the author of eternal salvation, Jesus knows those people whom he will save because He had already chosen them even before the foundation of the world.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." - Ephesian 1:4-6 (KJV)
Most people have accepted Him already as their personal Lord and Saviour. And He knows when shall be the right time for other chosen people to get saved. And the right time is always "according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace". And for those who had already rejected Him, did not accept Him, and will reject and not accept Him in the future were already condemned even before they were born.
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18 (KJV)
3) He is all-present and perfectly consistent to what he say and do...
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
Jesus is always present not just in the hearts of believers but in every aspect of their lives.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." - John 10:27-28
Now, I would like to raise this question...
Do you want to know if Jesus Christ already had chosen you to save you from eternal damnation? Just believe in Him. Accept and trust Him as your personal Lord and Savior and you shall be saved. And afterwards, you already know.
"...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." - Acts 16:30-31 (KJV)
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