The Justified Stage
Romans 8:28-33
"Those whom He called He justified. Those justified, He glorified.”
Let me just go ahead and put it out there: our lives, once believers, are in a justification stage. This scripture in Romans 8 tells us that those whom God predestined, He called. We are the predestined chosen who have answered the call of God. But answering the call is only 50% of the journey of our salvation.
For so long we have heard the church preach on eternal life as if that’s all there is once you’ve accepted Christ. It’s time we set the record straight on this spiritual malpractice. We have too many people rolling around in unrighteousness on the daily, and thinking they’re good from rolling out the religious carpet at set times. So, what are we to do in all of the time (days and years) between the initial “yes” and going to heaven? The next 49% is being justified, or as I like to call it, “The Justified Stage”.
Every trial, thought, action, word, act of ministry is a justifiable moment in our lives. Justified means “to be declared or made righteous in the sight of God”. Hear this man and woman of God… we DO NOT have to wait until death for God to say He is pleased with us! (See Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3.) I believe that all of life's opportunities are justifiable moments, that if we pass we will hear God say from His throne, "I AM WELL PLEASED”. We get to see Him say those words face to face when we get to the next step and are glorified in heaven.
So, let us not despise anything that happens here on earth! For every day is THE day to get justified! We're still here because there are more good works God wants you and I to complete for His glory. As we do our works, be confident in knowing that no one can be against us! No one can judge us! God will give us all the things we need and GOD will justify us! So… let’s declare the Word of the Lord and put our hands to the plow to bring heaven down to earth. Let’s yank people out of satan's grip and help them to answer the call as chosen ones and start their justified stage.