Only one Savior

by Maurice Pujol
Published July 1, 2006

I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" (Isaiah 43:11-13)

Even though the atmosphere in Washington has been highly politicized since the last election, it gets even more charged during every new election season. Legislators start promising the moon, and their constituency rallies around one candidate or another, hoping for a new age of peace and prosperity for all.

There’s a basic flaw in the thinking that government can somehow usher in a “heaven on earth.” We can set aside the whole liberal-versus-conservative debate here, whether we should have “big” government or “less” government. Both ends of the political spectrum, as well as everyone in between, miss the mark in a big way when they put all their faith in a party platform or a popular candidate.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God is truly Lord of all, and there is no solution to mankind’s problems except through Him. The foreign gods of Isaiah’s day didn’t disappear as men become more sophisticated and intelligent. In fact, there are probably more foreign gods in today’s postmodern civilization than at any other time in history.

“Foreign gods” are anything that takes first place in one’s life, a spot that should be reserved for the one true God. Some of our gods are things, including power, wealth, possessions, sex, drugs and alcohol. Some of our gods are people, especially in a culture that is obsessed with celebrity worship. “American Idol” is an aptly named television show, for many of us make idols of the culture’s latest hot icons, be they professional athletes, actors or singers.

During election years, a lot of people make gods out of things as well. Some may worship a pet cause, while others adhere blindly to the “party line,” whether it is Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Green. Political rallies and party conventions are the worship services of these dedicated faithful congregations, their candidates the high priests.

Any man who puts all his faith in another man is sure to be disappointed. All men are imperfect, and no one’s agenda has the solution for a perfect life on this earth. Besides, men come and go as quickly as the flower fades and the grass withers in winter. The best political solutions men have devised work only partially and only for a time.

A man who puts all his faith in God, Creator of the universe, will not be disappointed. God’s Word has survived over many centuries precisely because it is God’s Word, the absolute truth. Truth is something that cannot be decided by popular choice. In fact, in today’s culture, where there are as many “truths” as there are people, a tiny minority is choosing God’s truth.

Isaiah and John the Revelator had another name for this minority. They referred to them as a “holy remnant.” This is the group God has chosen to be His witnesses to the truth, to be lights in dark world, so that others may have the opportunity to set aside their idols and worship the one true God.

The prevailing “theology” in our culture, if there can be any such thing in a secular humanist, materialistic civilization, is universalism. Its mantra is the title of a popular book from the late 20th century, “I’m OK, You’re OK.” Universalists say there is no place of eternal damnation because everybody is going to “pass over” to the other side and live in eternal bliss with God. Some even think that we’re going to become little gods after we do pass over.

Of course, this is in direct contradiction to the time-honored teachings of God’s Word and even the direct sayings of Jesus. In fact, Jesus mentioned hell more than he spoke of heaven, no doubt because He could see the day when men would choose to believe the comforting lie of today’s religious cults.

The core declaration of Christianity concerning human nature is that none of us are “OK” the way we are. If we were all just fine, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. The atoning sacrifice of Jesus and His resurrection are central doctrines of the faith. Without these, there is no such thing as Christianity.

Yes, it’s true God loves us just the way we are. He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us, to carry out an atonement we couldn’t accomplish on our own. God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way. We are all sinners in need of regeneration. We need a Savior who is more than just a man, and Jesus fits that description.

Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery so much that He prevented her from being stoned to death. As He raised her from the ground, He reassured her by saying He did not condemn her. But Jesus’ parting words were, “Go and sin no more.”

She was saved, not because she was “OK,” but because God loved her. But God then expected more of her than a return to her old lifestyle. Jesus told her to turn away from her sins, an obvious call to live differently.

Revelation 19 describes Jesus as He will return one day, not as the Lamb of God, but as the King of kings. The time for choosing will then be over, for Jesus will come to judge. Everyone will have to stand before Him and give an account of his or her life. Those who had made prior decisions to repent and to accept Him as Lord and Savior will stand before Him with clean slates – not because they were “OK” but because Jesus had already wiped them clean.

The time for grace and forgiveness will then be over. It will be the day of reckoning. That’s one issue that won’t change with the times.

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