Anthony the Great I.a

"When the holy Abba Anthony lived in the desert he was beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts.  He said to God, 'Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone; what shall I do in my affliction?  How can I be saved?'  A short while afterwards, when he got up to go out, Anthony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray.  It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him.  He heard the angel saying to him, 'Do this and you will be saved.'  At these words, Anthony was filled with joy and courage.  He did this, and he was saved."

- Anthony the Great from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers. Translated by Benedicta Ward.  Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1984. Print. pp. 1-2

"How can I be saved?"  This question seems so foreign to us now.  Saved?  Saved from what?  Saved for what?  Undoubtedly, the biggest obstacle a reader from our culture faces in encountering such a statement is the fact that other Christians have tacked so much baggage onto simple words and concepts.  Let me be clear, I'm not talking about the clarification and elucidation of core concepts that occurred long ago.  Without the early councils we would have no concept of the Trinity, nor would we have the bible as we know it.  I'm talking about new innovations like the question: "are you saved?"

Answering this question in the affirmative seems to me to be perhaps the most presumptuous statement one could ever make.  And I'm not trying to be dramatic.  If you think you can make God's decisions for him then there's really nothing to top that.  For a moment, let's compare our contemporary experience with Anthony's.  Here's a man that moved into the desert, alone, to more fully commune with God.  He forsook every known comfort and convenience to devote himself completely to the Lord.  And while in the desert he was 'beset by accidie, and attacked by many sinful thoughts.'  This man who gave up everything for God was concerned that even his *thoughts* would keep him from salvation.  Fast forward, and today there are believers who are convinced of their salvation because they said a prayer or went up front at a Billy Graham crusade.  John MacArthur likes to distinguish people between the saved and the unsaved, like he knows!

Should we worry about our salvation?  Certainly, to an extent.  Anthony worried to the point his prayer was answered.  We should strive to live wisely, in humility, and according to the commands of our leader.  We should ask for direction and the things we lack.  After that we're simply left to the mercy of God.  But we can't presume to know what God will do, nor can we just rest on His mercy like a Sleep Number bed.  To do so is the exact opposite of living wisely, in humility, and according to His commands.