- Salvation is near
Psalm 85:9
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;
That glory may dwell in our land.
“The kingdom of God is at hand” = Salvation is near. “Your redemption is drawing near” = Salvation is near. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart…you will be saved” = Salvation is near. The NT expresses the fulfillment of Salvation with different metaphors, but they predicate the same idea: “near, nigh, at hand.” In the NT the idea of Salvation being near was physically and temporarily true for Jesus of Nazareth was nearby or making an appearance very soon. Jesus is Salvation; when He is near Salvation is near.
Salvation (Christ) is also nearby in space and time: when we call upon the name of the Lord we shall be saved. Whoever believes in the heart and confesses with the mouth shall be saved. So we can be sure that wherever in the world we are and whenever in history we exist Jesus and Salvation is so close to us. We can believe and be baptized anywhere, any time, and be saved. Even in jail; the jailer is told: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31).
But in addition to the once for all great salvation of my whole life there are many smaller salvations that occur almost daily. Although limited in scope of space or time little salvations and Saviors are always nearby to save: He delivers from evil, meets a need, answers a prayer, overcomes temptation, lifts out of a mess, rescues from the net, drives away the danger. He is near, and when we call He comes even closer to save. All these many daily salvations arise out of the One Great Salvation that happened in one place far away and at one time long ago. That One Salvation stretches out over all space and all time so that Jesus, and Salvation, may be near to us where and when we need Him. The promise of daily salvations draws me closer to Him more often.
When these things take place glory results and dwells in our land. When a little (big to me, but little to the world) salvation strikes my living room glory comes in and dwells in my living room. That’s where I want to be.
Salvation is nigh to them that fear Him; those who fear God (believe in Jesus) are already saved; salvation has already come near to them. The promise given here for believers is that the little, timely, intervening salvations are nearby, and because of that promise we are encouraged to call upon Him in the day of trouble.