He gave sight to a man who believed enough to allow mud to be smeared over his invalid lenses. He gave a thief a last-minute pass to paradise. He gave a reason for a five-time divorcee to rejoice. We commonly expect the whole journey of salvation to happen in one Bible study, or one Sunday night church service, when in fact we are all still on our way to salvation saved, and on the journey to ultimate salvation. Well, first of all, none of us have the place to speak for God in matters of who is saved and who isn't, in any instance, but it appears that God places a greater emphasis on belief than we do.
Humanity likes to see measurable results like attendance charts and charitable donations.
We don t want to hand out salvation to just anyone. Besides, the new guy hasn t done anything compared to what we have done in our lifetime of service to Him. His Word shows repeatedly His emphasis on believing in Him. Those who have been believing for a long time have diminished the value of belief. When God sees a person who relies on faith alone, in a world inundated with deception, the media, false representation, and churches that are as confusing as the Hall of Mirrors, He recognizes the incredible value of belief.