A Prayer in Praise of Jesus, the Perfect Savior
Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Heb. 7:24–25 NIV)
Gracious Jesus, driving into my home state recently, I came upon a billboard that pushed some buttons before it raised my palms. Just through the mountains of North Carolina, there it was, in bold, big, red letters: “Are You Saved?”
I’ll be honest. My first response was, “What an uncool, cost ineffective, out of date, impersonal way to do evangelism. People who put up highway signs like that are clueless about the gospel. They’re usually legalists and moralists and have no idea about a theology of imputed righteousness. They’re culturally disengaged and don’t realize what a turnoff that kind of signage is.”
But then your Spirit gently disrupted my signage tirade with this thought: “You completely avoided the question. Are you saved?”
I continued driving, but one palm went up anyway. For, indeed, I am saved, Jesus—unabashedly and unashamedly so. And there’s only one reason and there’s only one basis: I have come to God through you. You are the permanent priest who offered the perfect sacrifice for me, once and for all. You completed your work on the cross, and you will complete your work in me.
You live forever, and forever you live to thoroughly save me and your whole pan- national, trans generational bride. Your life and death were given in substitution for me, and now I wear your righteousness and enjoy your advocacy before the Father. Am I saved? Most definitely and most delightfully!
I don’t have to like highway billboards, but may I never ever tire of responding to the question “Are you saved?” for there’s no question more humbling to me and honoring of you. I pray, Jesus, in your merciful and mighty-to-save name.
Amen.