AARP Online Community: Melchizedek

Melchizedek

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Birthday: June 22

Gender: Male

Religion: Christian/Protestant

Location:
FREDERICA, Delaware
United States

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About Me

Forgive me if the name I put above my profile picture makes me appear presumptuous. In my defense, at first I tried 'Edward,' which, coincidentally, is my name, but that was taken. So then I thought I might change the spelling of my name to a less popular version and tried 'Eduard,' giving it perhaps a little European flair, but that was also taken. So I thought and I thought and tried to come up with a name--one that I could l 'live with,' if you know what I mean. So anyway, I had been reading from the Old Testament for the last week or so and it occurred to me that I might use a name of one of the historical figures mentioned there. More specifically, I had been reading from the book of Samuel, and there were a couple of different men mentioned in First and Second Samuel named Jonathan. But I thought, if 'Edward' and 'Eduard' have already been taken, what's the chance of 'Jonathan' being available. And I went through a few more names, and then 'Melchizedek' came to mind. And I thought, "That's a name I could live with. And I bet it's a name no one has yet claimed." By the way, I think the name only appears in the entire Bible a total of three times. But to anyone who might think that I used that name because I have compared myself to the real Melchizedek, let me quickly and unequivocally set the record straight. Far be it for me to claim any personal similarity to this revered biblical figure. There is, though, one famous figure from the bible that I do like to compare myself to, and that is Saint Paul--but ONLY--ONLY, I say emphatically--when he claims to be the "chief of sinners." I can handle that. That appellation seems to fit me just fine. If I were comparing myself to Paul, however, in any other regard, then I would surely be digging myself into a hole of presumptuousness. Oh! By the way, I am a born-again Christian fundamentalist.

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My Journals (4)

Are You 100% Sure?

Linda, the owner of a discussion group that I recently joined, posted the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses of the eleventh chapter of Gospel according to John, which goes like this:

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

and asked the following question:

If Jesus asked you this question could you truly say yes?

Rather than clog up her discussion with a very lengthy response, I decided to answer her question on my page, as a journal entry, and reference it there.

Several years ago, I found myself in the outskirts of a nearby town, and came upon a survey crew at work. I was looking for work at the time, and I have had lots of experience in the field of land surveying, so I thought I would do a little bit of cold-calling right then and there. I pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley, where they were set up, parked my van, and walked over to a young man that appeared to be the crew chief. I told him I was looking for work, and asked him if there were any jobs available with his company. He told me, very politely, that there were no vacancies with his company. And as I was about to leave, he gave me a tract. On the front of it, the question in big letters appeared, "Are You 100% Sure?" That's been nearly ten years ago, and I have yet to open it up and read what is inside. I didn't open it up because I was pretty sure I knew what was inside. And I also knew what my answer was: No.

I've said, regarding this tract that he gave me that I never ventured to open, that I am not 100% sure that my name is Edward. Who knows what took place way back when I was born? Records could have been falsified. Oaths could have been taken to remain silent about the truth of my birth. Any number of things could have occurred that I might never find out about. There are many truths I have sought, and never came to the conclusion that I was 100% sure of the results. So how can I be sure, to the tune of 100%, that I am saved?

Funny thing is, some time later I did another cold call, and was given a sales position. Now I am not a sales person. I've said I couldn't sell ice water in the desert. So the job didn't last. But, the gentleman who hired me was a Christian, and to commemorate our relationship, he gave me a Life Application Study Bible. He also invited me to his church. When he told me the name and location of his church, I remembered the name from the tract that the survey party crew chief gave me. I thought perhaps I might meet this guy again. Well, I was surprised after the service began that I indeed did see this guy again. There he was up on the altar, speaking to the congregation. He was a prominent member of the church.

Just before the end of the service--you probably know how these things go--the minister said a prayer, and while everyone's head was bowed, he did what I call the inventory--asking people to raise their hands to very specific questions concerning their salvation. From that 'inventory' he knows where his flock--including the visitors--stand. And as you might have suspected, that 100% question came up again, and I had to raise my hand accordingly--which meant that I had to have a meeting with one of the deacons in a private part of the church. It turned out to be one of those circular discussions, where you never reach the end, and you just have to look for the best opportunity to end it.

This is probably the longest answer you have ever gotten to a yes-or-no question. But as soon as I saw that word ‘truly’ in your question, I thought of this experience. As an aside, when I was in the local mall some time after I went through this, I met a minister of a Mennonite church that I regularly attended some time previously, and I related the experience to him. Many of the Mennonites are converts from the Amish, so he was familiar to the differing points of view between the two denominations--and I call the Old Order Amish a denomination rather than a sect. The minister told me that my uncertainty about my salvation placed me very close to the view of the Amish. He indicated to me that a level of doubt was understood by them to be quite normal, and that this 100% surety was almost like pie-in-the-sky thinking.

Notwithstanding all that I have written here, I can say that as time has passed, I have become increasingly sure of my salvation. I cannot claim that I have reached 100%, but I have reached a point, or a level of certainty, that allows me to go to sleep at night with a great sense of comfort. Maybe someday I will reach that magic number, but until I do, I will continue reading the Word of God and asking for guidance and comfort from the Holy Spirit. But then, on the other hand, there are times, like when I am fellowshipping here, that I do briefly feel that sense of complete surety. May God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless us all. Amen.

Added: September 9, 2009
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Comments (21)

SeaLady61 says:

Hi Edward,
I really enjoyed reading the story about your Dad that you posted in your Group and the meaning behind your writing. I believe that everyone who reads it understands your message. Beautifully written. Hugs, Carol

Posted: October 21, 2009 10:56AM EDT