“You Are My Savior!” (Lyft note)

Last week I gave a ride to a young man who is from India. I’ve taken him to work on a few occasions and we have discussed the difficulty he has in getting a ride to his place of employment so that he arrived on time. He is new in the community and at the job; he is concerned about the negative effects of repeated tardiness. After providing transportation for him on three or four successive days, and getting him to work on time, he was very effusive in his thanks for my “reliability”. As he left the car, he thanked me again and said, “You are my savior!”

In that moment it would have been easy to merely accept the expression of appreciation and go on my way. Instead, I was disturbed and stirred by the Spirit of God to quickly say, “R******, I am your friend but not your savior. Only Jesus can be your Savior.” He hesitated for a moment and then nodded and closed the car door.

The phrase “Jesus Saves” or “Only Jesus Saves” is commonly seen in a wide variety of places from vehicle bumpers to football games and billboards across the country. Sadly, too few truly understand its truth.

Jesus is acknowledged to be a good man, a teacher, even a prophet by most of the religions of the world. That, however, is only a part of who He is or how He saves. Jesus is God, who came to earth as a human being in the person of Jesus to make it possible for us to be saved. (John 1.1,14; 1 John 4.2)

We need to be saved because we have all sinned; don’t things that are contrary to the standard of holiness that God requires of us. So, we are separated from God and deserve judgement. (Romans 3.23; John 3.18,36).

Because we have sinned against God, we must pay for our sins. But Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf, paying the penalty only He could pay (2 Corinthians 5.21; 1 John 2.2). Jesus took the punishment that we deserve to save us from an eternal destiny separated from God. Because of His great love for us, Jesus laid down His life (John 15.13), paying the penalty that we had earned, but could not pay. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, demonstrating that His death was indeed sufficient to pay for our sins and that His life conquers death on our behalf (1Corinthians 15).

Jesus saves all who will receive His gift of salvation by faith. Jesus saves all those who cease trying to save themselves and fully trust in His sacrifice alone as the payment for sin (John 3.16; Acts 16.31). Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to pay for the sins of all humanity, but His gift of salvation is only received through faith (John 1.12).

Have YOU trusted Him?  Is He YOUR Savior?

I hope to pursue my conversation with R****** in the days ahead. The ride to work is only 10 minutes long. It will require patience and wisdom, but I’ll trust the Spirit of God to guide my interactions with this new contact He has given me.

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, Climb the steeps, and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Waft it on the rolling tide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, ye islands of the sea; Echo back, ye ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom, When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Give the winds a mighty voice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free, Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory: Jesus saves! Jesus saves! – Priscilla J. Owens

Priscilla Owens was born in 1829, of Scotch and Welsh descent. Most of her hymns were  written for Sunday-school work, and children’s services. “We have heard a joyful sound”, was written for a Sunday-school Mission Anniversary, and the words were adapted to the chorus “Vive le Roi” in the opera The Huguenots.