There is salvation in no one else! Under all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them. Acts 4:12 (TLB)
After seventeen years as a Christian, I’m still looking for a savior. No, not a savior of the spiritual variety. Someone to bail me out, clean up my mess, tell me what to do. Not mere help. Rescue. At times, I’ve cast my husband, a friend, or a family member in this role, straining our bonds. Other times, I’ve sought someone else—for pay or for pity. Or some codependent fixer finds me. Over and over, my spirits are buoyed with the false hope of salvation from whatever or whomever. I think, Finally a rescuer! Now I can let go! Inevitably the miscast messiah disappoints. I bail. They bail. The problem remains.
In John 16:7, Jesus tells us He’s sending the Holy Spirit, an advocate or helper, among other roles. Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) tells us God was graciously giving us His Son, a “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Read that again. In other words, the ultimate “life” management consultant: A perfect, all-knowing, loving, and stable Dad, all-powerful yet serene. Wow. While Jesus urges us to seek wise counsel, we were never meant to seek substitute saviors. Indeed, it’s the number-one sin in the Ten Commandments.
Even while I seek the caring counsel of loving friends, there is One who ultimately has all the answers and comfort I want. Jesus: the Savior who forgives even my misguided idolatries. When I seek Him, I find the One that I have always been looking for. He is the One who holds the universe in His hands and placed the stars in the sky. Jesus alone is able to bring the hope and salvation we all truly need.
Faith Step: Today, carry all your cares to your perfect personal Advocate and Counselor, the only Savior you will ever need. Jesus.
