What if You Can’t Remember your Salvation Birthday?
I once heard a pastor I love and respect say, "If you can't remember the date and time of your salvation, I question your salvation."
That statement bothered me for years since I had always had such an up and down, roller-coaster relationship with the Lord until now, so I decided to research it. Ultimately, I can't find that concept in scripture ANYWHERE, and I know for my own life, I MIGHT have been saved at the age of seven, but I also know that I wasn't truly living for Jesus or even cared about what God's Word even said until the last year or so. I avoided the Bible so that I didn't have to do what it said, I willingly indulged in sin and ignored potential consequenses, and I ultimately lived for myself - my reputation, my persona, my success. I truly believe my motivation for salvation for most of my life was not enjoying the truth of Christ, but rather the simple fear of going to hell.
God drew me back to himself slowly after breaking my legs in ministry and causing me to legitimately rely on him. I was a cultural Christian. I believed whatever I thought I was suppose to believe to get by. I said all the right Christiany stuff, I wore the right Christiany clothes. I didn't pray. I didn't read the Bible. I wasn't convicted about what God said sin is. It wasn't until my 30th year that I began to see the fruit of the Holy Spirit evidenced in my life, and it actually surprised me! The Word began to make sense, and suddenly, I had a drive to know God's heart and a passion for his Word.
If your story is similar and you grew up in church, please know, you don't have to know a specific date or time of your salvation in order for it to be real. It is Jesus that saves us, we don't save ourselves. The question is not, "what date and time were you saved?" The question is, "Are you truly trusting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation now?"
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"As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." 2nd Corintians 6:1-2
