We found ourselves in a 4WD vehicle on the sands of the Currituck
National Wildlife Refuge. Our purpose was to find and admire the wild
horses living there; however, most of the people on the beach were there
for a different reason: to admire the sun and the sand!
It soon
became apparent to us that many of the tourists were not adequately
prepared to even be there, for they didn't drive 4WD vehicles. Some of
these ended up getting stuck in the sand right at the entrance to the
beach.
Having a 4WD, however, doesn't ensure you can go anywhere
in these dunes. We also saw a few 4WD vehicles stuck in the sand!
In order to prepare your vehicle in advance, it is imperative that
you lower the pressure in your tires to about 20 PSI, so that the tires
can achieve better traction with the sand. It is also important to
ensure adequate clearance. Otherwise, you will scrape the underside of
your vehicle on the sand. Finally, an element of common sense is also
strongly suggested.
Unfortunately for all those unprepared
vehicles we saw, the cost of being set free is exuberant. 500$ if you
are a little bit stuck, and 1000$ if you are really stuck. Thus, being
prepared is vital!
"God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms
who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and
children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us-an
unbelievable inheritance!" (Rom 8:16-17b, MSG)
There is no doubt:
once God's Holy Spirit dwells in us, we know with certainty that we are
part of God's family, confirming that we are heirs of our Heavenly
Father. In simple words; We are saved! Doesn't this fill us with
adrenaline?
Sadly, how many believers are unsurec of their
salvation? By digging a bit deeper, I have found that though these
believers know of the Holy Spirit, they truly don't know Him personally.
How sad! It's like getting married to yourself. No spouse! They are
unprepared for the reality of God's perspective!
Something
amazing happens though when we welcome God's presence through His Holy
Spirit. He starts to dwell in us, and He is the One who is "guaranteeing
what is to come." (2Cor 1:22b, NIV2)
Unlike those who don't know
him, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come
from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot
understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."
(1Cor 2:14, NIV2) In other words, those who doubt their salvation, do
not know God's Holy Spirit personally. They have never acknowledged Him
or invited Him into their lives. They are the ones who are not prepared
for God's presence.
It must be scary for these believers to
always wonder if they are "good enough". However, there is a simple
solution: Prayerfully invite God's Holy Spirit to dwell in you. Welcome
Him with open arms and cherish His presence. It will change your life
dramatically for the better. You will never ever be alone. He will be
there for you at all times, and He will assure you that you are indeed
saved for eternity. He is the only One who can guarantee this. No one
else can do so.
Don't remain stuck in the sand. Invite the One
who can unstuck you for free!
Rob Chaffart