However, the word "provision" can also mean something that is not yet possessed, but merely available, requiring effort to obtain it. When this meaning is applied to spiritual ideas, it generates anxiety.
Salvation is a "provision" in the sense that God provides it, actually gives it, to all before they seek it. Salvation is not "provisional," that is, conditional upon an adequate response. However, a gift given is different from a gift received. The reception of the gift of eternal life is faith, which appreciates what the gift cost.
Many people believe God's entire plan to reconcile the human race is essentially "potential" and inert until the individual hears, understands, and decides to respond positively to the Gospel good news. Then he must attract the attention of an indifferent God with sufficient humility, confession, and repentance so God is persuaded to feel kindly toward him. Only then can there be some confidence regarding spiritual things, assuming the process is repeated often enough. Even then one is not sure whether he or she has done enough to impress God. It is easy to see that this view of God forms the basis of virtually all human anxiety.
Much of how we interact with others is rooted in a need to see ourselves as "good people," which not only has supposed benefits here and now, but also attracts God's attention for the future judgment. There are hundreds who are willing to engage in even the most disagreeable work, provided it is earning them some favor with others or the Lord. God cannot reward such self-aggrandizing motivation, and our need for reassurance becomes an ever-receding horizon of frustration and anxiety. Until our view of God is changed, religion has little value except to perpetuate this anxiety and fear. Instead, we should look to the cross of Christ. The love (agape) demonstrated there before we did anything to ingratiate ourselves to God should assure us that we can rest in His love and promises. Our only solution is to accept the promises God makes as true, even if we don't feel worthy of them.
Anxious people are always asking the "what if" questions. What they really fear is death and they want absolute assurance from God that they will not die. David says, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. … In God I have put my trust" (Psalm 56:3, 4). Note that he says, "I will trust …" You can't help being tempted to be afraid; it is not a sin to be tempted, but you can exercise your will, you can choose not to be afraid because you choose to trust in the Lord who loved you so much that He died for you.
For those who trust Him, God prepares a table in the presence of their enemies (Psalm 23:5), where they can quietly sit down and eat while the enemy rages and spends its strength in vain; but people mostly become frightened at the roaring of the adversary, and fly from their place of protection. By fearing to trust the Lord, and thinking that in this case we must use our own skill to help us out of the difficulty, we show that we regard ourselves as gods, greater than the God of heaven.
But isn't there something I am to do? This question is asked twice in the Scriptures: once by the rich young ruler and then by Paul's jailer. "What must I do to be saved?" Neither the ruler nor the jailer was inspired, and neither was the question they asked. The answer to this question is "No"! There is nothing to do. Paul's answer was: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30, 31). In other words, God's "rest," the gospel, has been given. Let the heart be changed by faith in God's gospel "rest." Receive the gift with a thankful heart.
Some may say, "that's too easy," but it is not easy. Our self-centered nature continues to prompt us to think we need to add to what the Lord is doing. When we do this, we are worshipping ourselves, and choosing to disbelieve Philippians 1:6 where God promises that He (not me) will finish the work He started in you.
He is waiting for us! He bends down to earth, anxiously waiting to hear some cry. So intently does He listen that not only does He hear the faintest whisper, but the first impulse to call upon Him reaches His heart. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, and responds to them. He is not like the unjust judge, who must be importuned and besieged before he would grant the righteous request (see Luke 18:1-8)
A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner (the Lord's 1888 "messengers") taught that Christ legally and objectively saved the world. He died every man's second death, bearing the iniquity of all sinners, legally justifying "all men." Jones put it this way:
"Take the man who does not believe in Jesus at all tonight. … If this man wants to have Christ for his Saviour, if he wants provision made for all his sins, and salvation from all of them, does Christ have to do anything now, in order to provide for this man's sins, or to save him from them?--No; that is all done; He made all that provision for every man when he was in the flesh, and every man who believes in Him receives this without there being any need of any part of it being done over again. He 'made one sacrifice for sins for ever'" (General Conference Bulletin, 1895, p. 268).
The antidote for fear, anxiety, and insecurity is to review the promises of God. He has promised to give you a heart (Psalm 51:10; Jer. 24:7) to understand that Jesus indeed is the Savior of all men, especially those who believe (1 Tim. 4:10). By taking our human nature in Him to the cross, He obtained a verdict of acquittal for all. He will not force eternal life on all, but those who believe His promises will allow Him to finish the work He wants to complete in all.
Maybe you could begin a list of your favorite promises, so when doubts assail, you can quickly seek God and say, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief."
--Arlene Hill
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