Save As

I am a chronic saver. When it comes to the documents and other things I create, I use “Control-S” frequently. I blame my master’s thesis for starting this obsession. There is simply too much pressure for something so important for me to accidentally lose my document because I forgot to save it. My doctoral project didn’t cure this habit, either.

“Control-S,” however, is not my favorite function. If I were to name my favorite office software function, I would definitely go with “Save As.” I like the “Save As” function so much so that I make sure I create a customized button just for it and very nerdily place it by my save button (always to the right in case you’re wondering).

Not only does it save things (which in and of itself is pretty powerful, right?), but “Save As” also saves things in a way that you want to identify them. Equally cool, it allows you the option of saving your files where you want them to go. Take this document, for example. I created a blank document. Then, I hit my “Save As” button and named this document, “Save As.” I also had the option of where I saved it. “Save As” lets me create different versions with different names if I want.

If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. If you have tried it, I wonder if you’ve given as much thought as I have although that may be a different topic for a different day. You see, I have not been sleeping very well lately. I’m not 100% sure the reason behind it.

My lack of sleep may be that I have too much time on my hands with me not securing a job yet. I may be feeling worried at times. I don’t know. I do know this, however, I wake really early. Sometimes, I go back to sleep easily. Other times, I do not. There isn’t a given time I awake. I don’t drink a lot of caffeine. I don’t eat heavy meals at night. I tend to take my medications around the same time. Sometimes, I sleep pretty well; others, I don’t. So, there’s not really a pattern to my lack of sleep.

These awakenings used to bother me, too. I would become frustrated or irritated. Grumpy, even. I discovered these early mornings, however, are usually the times I’m still enough and quiet enough that God gives me insights. I’m yet to experience a vocalization or a direct word, but I still get insights. I know they are not mine.

Instead, they are gifts from Him. When I realized this, I began asking God, “Okay, God, what do you have for me?” Then, I wait. If there’s nothing, I move on and read or try to sleep. But, if there’s something there, I email myself.

I have been doing this for a couple of years now. I have emailed myself portions I used in my doctoral project. In fact, I emailed myself ideas behind this article. I once landed a dream job by following one of the insights God gave me in one of my awakenings. That time, it was more of a suggestion to contact a college to see if they had any job openings. Turns out, there were three. Yes, I secured one of them thanks be to God!

“Save As” does not just have to be about office software. In fact, in my awakening this morning, I realized it parallels our daily lives. For example, we all have a choice of how we identify ourselves. We see this play out in all kinds of ways these days. I have a choice to identify myself as a “tall, bald dude with glasses,” “husband,” “father,” “victim,” or an “anxiety-sufferer.”

Thankfully, though, we are constantly editing our personal narratives, aren’t we? Through Christ Jesus, we are made new (Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Thank God for that! Because of that reason, I can also identify as an “overcomer” and a “Christ-follower.”

But, see, that choice is not just mine. It is yours as well. You, too, can be made new. Salvation is a gift of Jesus’ grace. It’s certainly a gift we don’t deserve, but God gives it to us freely if we’re interested. Just read the verses from the “Romans Road to Salvation:” Romans 3:23, Romans, 6:23, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 10:13.

The greatest choice we have on Earth is where we end up when we die. In this world of fence-riding and numerous offenses being taken daily, in the end, we are either Christ-followers or we aren’t. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. There is no “maybe.” We may intend to get to that “religion thing’ one day, but sometimes, time runs out before we do.

Then what?

I once heard a pastor friend put it this way: “We are either a slave to our sins or a slave to Christ.” 1 Corinthians 7:22 says as much. When I heard him say that, it hit me how simple yet truthful his words were. There is no middle ground. There is no fence-riding on this one.

I promise you that I am not trying to be offensive here. I just want you to know about Jesus. Everything I have ever done is because of Him. Everything I have is because of Him. Everything. I have done nothing on my own. Jesus has always been with me. Unfortunately, there have been times I’ve tried to be away from Him. Fortunately and thankfully, He has never tried to be away from me. He won’t leave you, either. You may turn from Him or never seek Him, but Jesus will not let you down (Hebrews 13:5).

I’ve heard it put something like this: If I’m wrong, I’ll live my life trying to do good according to the Bible, and I’ll die. But if I’m right, I’ll do all those same things except I’ll get to spend eternity glorifying and praising Jesus with my family and loved ones.

If you are wrong about Jesus but you know about Him and still choose not to follow Him, your eternity will be far worse than just having a final resting place of dirt. Faith comes through hearing (Romans 10:17). So if you have heard of Jesus, please do not ride the fence this time.

Our men’s group has been reading Loving God by Charles Coulson. Coulson used an illustration of a door that really hit home with me. Imagine a door. Salvation is on the other side. Think about it like this: When you hear about Jesus, consider it to be a knock at your door. You have a choice to open that door and walk through it or keep that door closed tight. Salvation doesn’t get any easier than that.

In reading this article, God’s knocking.

Are you going to answer?

Open the Bible if you have one. Download the YouVersion app for your smartphone if you don’t. Talk with other believers. Go to a Spirit-led and Spirit-filled church. YouTube a sermon about a current issue in your life. As you establish a relationship with Jesus, I promise you He will change your life.

I had a friend share a story about a young Muslim girl who dreamed of Jesus and the cross as a child.

So what’s the big deal? A little girl dreamed about Jesus.

Well, the big deal is this young lady had never heard anything about Jesus Christ or the cross. She told her parents. They were horrified and ultimately ostracized her. She became a Christ-follower. She hit the “Save As” button and rewrote her narrative not only on Earth, but also for eternity. She created a new identity thanks to Jesus and has a new save location in heaven.

Please consider doing the same. Ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life, turn away from your old ways, study the Word, and surround yourself with other Christ-followers at a Bible-based church. Hit that “Save As’ button. Establish a new identity in Christ. Enter a new save location, forever.

God bless you; I am praying for you.

#Jesus #Christ #ChristFollower #Salvation #SavedByGrace #Office #OfficeSoftware #SaveAs #OpenTheDoor #HitTheButton