When we think about the idea of our conversion we usually identify it as a point in time moment somewhere in our past where we emotionally, intelligently and spiritually accepted our Redeemer and by doing so realised a change of heart, thoughts and purposes. Now the topic of our conference this year is about how to be truly converted. What I like very much about this being our topic is that inbuilt into it is a recognition there may be times in our Christian walk were we stop and ponder am I truly converted? Was that point in time moment so precious in my memory the genuine thing or perhaps I am not converted at all.

…To follow Jesus requires wholehearted conversion at the start, and a repetition of this conversion every day. – {SD 207.3}

Now this is a very interesting statement don’t you think? Not only are we to think of conversion as a point in time moment in our past as we so often do and as we often read about in say the experience of Paul on the road to Damascus, but we are to repeat that process on a daily basis in order to be truly converted. When I first came to this statement it bewildered me a little. How is that one can relive their conversion experience on a daily basis?

In order to understand our need for daily conversion we must understand and examine an attribute of God that also happens to be a name of God. Understanding this attribute enables us to understand rightly our Christian faith and it may even change the way you read the Word of God.

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. Exodus 3:13-15

“I Am means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike to God. He sees the most remote events of past history, and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things that are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in the great I AM”  – {1BC 1099.5}

Our God is an ever present and eternal God. He is without the bounds of time and past, present and future are alike to Him. At all times He lives is in the present tense. So what implication does this have for our faith and conversion?

“The trouble with people is that they regard eternity as only future, whereas eternity is past, present, and future. It has been, is, and is to be. Especially is it now, for God “inhabits eternity” (Isaiah 57.15), and His name is “I AM”. Eternity with Him is always present. Likewise He desires us to live the life eternal, but always in the present. He, who truly believes in Christ, passes from death unto life, from the temporal to the eternal, from the unreal to the real. And thus it is in a sense true that the Gospel has to do with the next world, rather than with this. Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1.4. But He delivers us from this present world only by saving us from the evil of it now. He gives us rest in His righteousness”. – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : November 18, 1897}

God desires that our faith be a reflection of His own character. As He is eternal our claim to eternal life is bound up in the present and not merely in some future aspiration or past moment of conversion.

“…the Christian religion is a religion of the present tense.  In the Christian life, nothing counts for anything except that which is present.  Whatever has been in the past is valuable only for its present influence and effect; and the same is true of that which is to come… Christianity in the present tense takes a person just where it finds him; and therefore none need wait or be discouraged.  The Lord purposes to save men, —all men in the world who will let Him do it—and He cannot do this except by taking them just where there are, and just where they are at each succeeding moment of their lives.  And therefore His purpose is to take you just where you are, not only now, but at each moment which will become “now” as soon as you reach it.  If He cannot save men in this way, He cannot save them at all.  But He has assured us that He is able to save all, to the very uttermost, that will look unto Him.  And therefore the only thing to do is simply to look to Him now and believe now, without reference to the past failures or future hopes.  The only starting point in the Christian life is “now;” the only point attainable is “now.”  To live now is not to wish or resolve or anticipate now, but to believe and take.  It is looking to Christ now.  It is when we forget to live in the present moment by looking at that moment to Jesus Christ for grace and strength, —by taking Him at the present moment as God’s gift to us—that we fail.” – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : February 1, 1894}

Shall we trust that we have done some good work in the past to bring us to Christ or hope that our faith will produce fruit at some future point? Shall we trust to a moment of conversion in the past as the indicator of true conversion in our life? No, the only point attainable is now and what have we to do with this present moment? Simply trust and rest implicitly in the merits of Christ, in the saving power of our present redeemer.

The followers of Christ are not to trust to past experience, and fail to go on to perfection. In so doing, the church will meet with defeat and ruin. Upon what shall she depend? Wholly and entirely upon God – {UL 275.5}

But am I just preaching once saved always saved to say that in this present moment is eternity? That true faith and true conversion is mine this very moment? Beside isn’t the work of sanctification the work of a lifetime?

But while we are to seek earnestly for perfection of character, we must remember that sanctification is not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime. Said Paul, “I die daily.” Day by day the work of overcoming must go forward. Every day we are to resist temptation, and gain the victory over selfishness in all its forms. Day by day we should cherish love and humility, and cultivate in ourselves all those excellencies of character which will please God and fit us for the blessed society of heaven. To all who are seeking to accomplish this work, the promise is very precious, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” – {HS 181.2}

Indeed sanctification it is the work of a lifetime, so how then can I presume that in the present moment I can be truly converted and have eternal life?

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8

Let us be mindful again that a lifetime and a moment are but the same in the I AM. So indeed while we are changed over a lifetime we can claim His promises now and only now. That is no presumption, that is present Truth. “..whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Believe when? Now, our only problem is when we stop believing in the promises of the Word. Do you understand now why we must experience conversion daily?

What is the Gospel? “It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1.16. It is present power applied to the salvation of the one who has present faith. From what does the power of God save men? Jesus is the power of God, and of Him it was said, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1.21. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1.15. The Gospel is the power of God to save men from sin. But it is present power, for sin is ever present. Its power is applied only while one is believing. “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1.17. The moment a man ceases to believe, then he is a sinner, just the same as though he had never believed. Yesterday’s faith will not answer for today, any more than the breathing of the man yesterday will keep him alive today. – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : May 18, 1893}

The moment a man ceases to believe he is a sinner. If one is a sinner is he or she then in need of conversion? A renewed mind, thoughts and purposes? You see we need to be converted daily because the moment we cease to believe is the moment our carnal hearts turn from God and to self. In that moment our Salvation is at stake and nothing we have done before that moment or after that very moment can save us because in that moment we are no longer grafted to the vine.

Let me illustrate from the Word to simplify our understanding.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 1:7

Do you believe this happened? Is it something that happened afar off or is it also a present reality? Are we not evidence that His Word is to be understood in the present tense?

“He is caring for us every moment; He keeps the living machinery in action. If we were left to run it for one moment, we should die. We are absolutely dependent upon God.” – {20MR 115.3}

As much as the present reality of the Word sustains our existence in the physical sense so too does a present acknowledgement of it and of Him who it reveals sustain our spiritual existence.

So it is that “every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God.” 1 John 4.2, 3. Note again the present tense. It is not enough to confess that Jesus Christ did come in the flesh; that will bring no salvation to anybody. We must confess from positive knowledge that Jesus is just now come in the flesh, and then we are of God… So our part is with humbleness of mind to confess that we are sinners; that in us is no good thing. If we do not, then the truth is not in us; but if we do, then Christ, who came into the world for the express purpose of saving sinners, will come and take up His abode with us, and then the truth will indeed be in us. Then there will be perfection manifested in the midst of imperfection. There will be completeness in the midst of weakness. For we “are complete in Him.” Colossians 2.10. – {Ellet J. Waggoner, The Present Truth : May 18, 1893}

My brothers and sisters can you see now how valuable this present moment is! This very moment! Are you clinging to the risen Saviour? Are you abiding there?

In the Christian life, nothing counts for anything except that which is present.  Whatever has been in the past is valuable only for its present influence and effect; and the same is true of that which is to come.

“…every moment is golden, and should be employed in working with all diligence in the garden of the Lord. The work of Christ in the sanctuary above, presenting His own blood each moment before the mercy-seat, as He makes intercession for us, should have its full impression upon the heart, that we may realize the worth of each moment. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us; but one moment carelessly spent can never be recovered” .– {TSS 86.1}

There is no more a clearer and wonderful example of this present tense faith as that which is seen in the penitent thief on the cross.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:39-43

“…While the leading Jews deny him, and even the disciples doubt his divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, at the close of his probation, calls Jesus his Lord! Many were ready to call him Lord when he wrought miracles, and also after he had risen from the grave; but none called him Lord as he hung dying upon the cross, save the penitent thief, who was saved at the eleventh hour… Never in his entire ministry were words more grateful to his ears than the utterance of faith from the lips of the dying thief, amid the blasphemy and taunts of the mob. But let no one neglect present opportunities and delay repentance, presuming on the eleventh-hour conversion of the thief, and trusting to a death-bed repentance. Every ray of light neglected leaves the sinner in greater darkness than before, till some fearful deception may take possession of his mind, and his case may become hopeless. Yet there are instances, like that of the poor thief, where enlightenment comes at the last moment, and is accepted with an intelligent faith. Such penitents find favor with Christ.” – {3SP 158.2- 159.1}

Why was salvation his in that very moment? Because Jesus saw in that very moment what would have been a lifelong faith had he had been allowed to live. Let us not neglect the now, hoping to change or looking back at the past. But this very moment cling to Christ for the blessing. Eternity is yours so long as you cling to Jesus now and continue to do so in every moment that will become now. He will never fail to be at your side so long as you desire Him. Let me illustrate further:

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. John 20:11-16

Mary cried out after her Saviour, and at that very moment He was by her side, though she recognized Him not. Often we do not recognise Jesus at our side but he is the I AM. When by faith we cry out where are you Lord? The answer ever is, I AM with you, even unto the end. He is an ever present help in time of need and the moment we believe, He is there. Hold fast to Him and victory now is yours.

Do you see brethren now why daily conversion is the only assurance of victory? It is not because the Lord needs to remind us of his unyielding love but because we are so fickle in our faith that we of ourselves need that moment by moment reminder. It is no wonder the Bible is littered with verses about remembering.

The message of a present tense faith and daily conversion brings with it both endless hope and serious admonition. The moment we look away from the Saviour we are at peril of defeat and death but on the other hand we may feel we have been hopeless in our past sins and our human frailty but have assurance that this very moment Jesus is willing to wipe the slate clean should you but abide in his Everlasting arms. As our first quote so simply stated conversion is required at the start and every day after. We cannot rest in our years of church attendance and bible study as safety brethren. We must each moment be renewed in our mind.

Your grasp should be fastened upon the eternal, and you realize that you have the strength that is mighty to cling to, which will be to you a stronghold and fortress in the day of trouble, affliction, and peril. But will that better time and that more favorable opportunity ever come to those who would say to the Spirit of God, as did Felix, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season I will call for thee? Is the opportunity ever to come when we can leave sin any more easily than at the present moment? Is the time coming when we can take hold of the truth any more easily than now? Satan has come down with great power, and is working with great activity to weave his net around unguarded souls and thereby take them captive in his snares, that they may not be partakers of the glories that are to be revealed at the appearing of Jesus Christ. – {RH April 12, 1870 Par. 7}

It is my prayer brethren’s that our faith is a present faith that takes hold of present promises in a present Redeemer leading us thereby to a present conversion. “Now,” and “today,” are the words which the Gospel most employs. It is quite true that we are promised much for the future, but the only assurance of future salvation is present salvation. He, who is saved today, has no fear for tomorrow.

Steven Caruana