On Preservation

Safe or Saved by the Face of God?

  I am prone to pass over the psalms when reading scripture.  That’s not what the Passover should be! Stupid me; for there is great doctrine hidden away in those words of prose! David wrote most of them. In those “songs” he confessed his sins, lamented over them, feared his enemies who were representatives of Satan, sought solace in the Lord, and had hope that his salvation would come.
  He asked that Israel be preserved that the covenant be preserved; that a Savior would come from his seed. Just as David was the hope of the Jews, the “Son of David” – Jesus – is the hope of mankind. The Jews were to be given first opportunity before the world!
  David often said things as, “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.” (Psalm 31:16) and “O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. (Psalm 31:23). Most often “the English word “safe” is used in past tense, as “saved.” It is as if it already happened!
  Let’s examine the classical example of “saved”: “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Now focus on “shall be saved.” Some versions use “should” and “shall” interchangeably. However, “should” is past tense and “shall” present tense; albeit “shall” is directed toward future events. Thusly, “shall” can have a double-meaning – now or anytime subsequent to the present.
  Bear with me for a moment, and not let this lesson in grammar deter your thoughts. Words mean things! Do you not want to know if you have been saved, are now saved, or will be sometime in the future? It is to be noted that “the assurance of salvation” is having enough faith that you perceive yourself as already “saved.”
  Satan plays word games with people to confuse them. One deception that he uses is to believe that you have already been saved so that you will not walk the Way of Jesus any further. Some versions use “should be saved” as in John 3:16 KJV. Other versions use “shall be saved.” Which is it? The original Greek leaves that open to interpretation. Their word is sozos, and Strong’s Dictionary provides “safe” and “saved” as definitions. It also gives “preserve;” “To keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction” (Merriam-Webster Dict.). I prefer “safe” because it fits scripture better. For instance, Job had a hedge of safety about him. His preservation was by faith in trusting God. (Job 1).
  In the Garden of Eden, there was surely a hedge about it to keep the pair safe. How is that known? Because there was one way back into the Garden which was protected by the flaming swords of cherubim to keep those without faith from The Tree of Life (Jesus).
  “Shall” is archaic. Presently, “will” is most often used. “Will be safe” makes sense because it is certain that anyone will be “safe” if they have what? David wrote in the psalm that God preserves the faithful. That is present tense. It indicates that anyone who is faithful is in a state of preservation.
Faithful is not only for the present, but the word itself points toward the future. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Mat 10:22). Paul likened faith to a race with a prize at the end. Faith has a time element; faith is serving to the end. Ironically, Christians serve and God preserves! Preservation, like any preserves, is dependent on lack of contamination. As sealed lids to jars preserves the meat, God seals the safety “container” (the soul) as long as contamination does not enter in. (John 6:27).
  Of course, the “meat” is our flesh. By grace God gave us free will to determine what we allow into the soul. His safety is not to allow the meat to be thrown-out into Sheol (Job 1:12) but God does allow those who are “safe” to be afflicted (Job 2:7). Because of his faith, Job was preserved throughout all sorts of mishandling and attempts to contaminate his preservation.
  The question arises? “Could Job have relinquished his faith?” It seemed that the Lord had forsaken him, just as it seemed to Jesus on the cross. God did not and will not! He allowed Satan and his demons to tempt Job by loosening “the lid” on his “jar” (the soul) a little at a time. Job could have abandoned God but he did not! Jesus could have abandoned God but he did not! The point so far is to conclude that those who have faith are not saved but they are safe.
  I have always pondered God’s Will that Adam “dress and keep the Garden” (Gen 2:15). Does not the Lord take care of the Garden Himself? Since there was not death there, and no weeds, it would seem that God cared for the “trees” Himself. Obviously, as the two were cast out of the Garden, God did just that!  “Trees” in scripture seem to be a metaphor for “living souls.” God would take care of the souls in the Garden paradise, as he does in Heaven, but outside in the world, God foreknew Adam’s role: He was to dress and keep the living souls out there!
  Just as good a translation for “dress and keep” is to “serve and preserve.” Outside in the world, Adam was to serve the Lord and others, which by the way is the Greatest Commandment, and just as in the Garden, the Lord will preserve His faithful.
  David worded his psalm correctly – “preserveth the faithful.” The Lord preserves those with faith is to the end just as with the jar of “meat” which was discussed earlier. Meat can be preserved for a reason; it is to nourish the one who preserves it. God preserves mankind to the end to serve Him. Faith is trusting the right master. Those with faith choose wisely; they choose the Face of God as David wrote.
  “The Face of God” is the Savior – Jesus! As I have written many times, the prophets and patriarchs didn’t see God’s face directly, but as a shadow. They most certianly saw The Tree of Life as “The Face of God” in that the Root and Power was beneath the surface of the earth. How is it known that The Tree of Life is Jesus? By its twelve fruits and the fact that “it” is still standing on the River of God in Paradise (Rev 22:2).
  Remembering that the Tree of Life in the Garden was protected by cherubim, who can enter? “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev 22:14). Those faithful to the end who have a right to The Tree of Life! The password recognized by the cherubim is “Jesus.” By no other Name can one enter in! “Blessed” means “bliss” which is only in Paradise.
  Salvation is not now in the present. It is entering into the gates of God’s City wherein Satan can no longer affect them. It has impenetrable walls and the gate is still guarded by cherubim to keep evil-doers out – those who have no right to be there. The promise, “shall be saved,” is then. Each day the faithful are nearer their salvation than when they first believed! (Rom 13:11).
  The point is that “salvation” is when we can see the Face of God in Person; not only in our thoughts and visions, but when we look at God we will see His Face. That Face is Jesus, and then with entry into the Gate to that City, finally the faithful will be saved.
  Salvation depends on our seeing the Face of God as David did. That “face” is seen by Jesus’s Name only, and no other. Salvation depends on Jesus, The Tree of Life, still preserved in Heaven as on Earth. The faith and trust that he is alive is faith to save us.
  I’ve written before that “The Third Prescription” is about the Face and Purpose of the Face, and His Name. Examine that Prescription: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
  The Lord is without a name, but He is called Jesus, the Christ, and God With Us. If we call on the Name of the Lord for salvation that Name is Jesus. Vanity in regard to God’s Name is disregarding the very Purpose of Jesus which is to save mankind. The penalty for taking Jesus flippantly is “guilty” and those will not be preserved from perishing. “Perishing” is not having the right to enter into Heaven, but deserving of punishment in Hell.
  The Ten Prescriptions, if taken steadfastly and to the end, will preserve to the time of “healing” when Jesus will finally heal the nations – his nations and his people. Rebirth is a sort of vaccination. It doesn’t ensure that one not perish but makes preservation more likely. Foolish people will open the “jar” for a little taste of the flesh inside and despoil all the meat inside!
  Now for one last comment about David’s seeing God’s Face: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” From the Hebrew, a good second translation would be: Thou shalt have no other gods with my face. Jesus is the one and only “Face” of God. Simon the Sorcerer pretended to be, and to many Muslims, Judas was the face of their god, Allah.  Nowadays, it is Brahma, and even people! The true Face of God whose Name is Jesus is the password for entry beyond the cherubim who ensures that only those faithful to the Lord obtain salvation!
  Do not be dismayed; if you keep your faith, you are as well as saved! Satan’s entire purpose is to create doubt and diminish your faith until the Name of the Lord is vanity. The Holy Ghost lives inside true Christians, and Is the hedge against Satan and his demons getting through the entryway to the soul.
  Christians are not yet “saved” but are “preserved” until the time of salvation.