I was raised in a church that taught that on certain date someone could give his heart to God and he or she would be saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. I truly believe sanctified…Yes! Filled with the Holy Ghost… Yes! But even the church I was raised in talked of those who had become backsliders. If they were saved, how did this happen. I hope you enjoy the poem. It is meant to be food for thought.

“I am saved,” he cries out loud and clear.
He knows not what he is saved from except his own fear.

“I am sanctified,” he yells for all to hear.
He feels consecrated, made holy, purified by the Lord so Dear.

He has promised himself to the Lord… he made a religious vow.
He now feels his eternity with God has been earned somehow.

I will not challenge his right to believe but I challenge him to do
The will of God every day to give social or moral sanction, too.

To whom you may ask? To anyone and everyone.
For sanctification is like a marriage… the trip has just begun.

It is my contention that I have not yet been saved.
But sanctification should be evident in the way I have behaved.

Salvation shall come when I stand before the highest one.
This will come when my Earthly life is lived and done.

What I must do while I work for my Lord
Is to not only recite it but truly live the word.

I will try to live my life with simple humility.
I will, with the help of God purge myself of hate and hostility.

When I stand before the almighty I hope and I pray
I will honestly know what I will be able to say.

“I did not do the right thing to earn my way to heaven with you.”
“I served you, my Lord because it was the right thing to do.”

The greatest sound I could ever hope to hear from God’s only son
Would be come, my friend for your job was well done.