How
to Be Sure
By Arthur DeMoss
There's
probably more uncertainty about the most important matter
in the world than about any other. Ask 100 persons “Are
you a Christian?” or, “Are you going to Heaven
when you die?” The vast majority of people would
answer with varying degrees of doubt – “I
don't know” - “I'm not sure” - “I'm
working on it” -
“I've no idea.”
Most
of these same persons would tell you that they believe
in Jesus Christ, and that they believe in Heaven. Yet
they don't know whether or not they are going to Heaven.
What,
by the way, would your answer be?
Most
of us know definitely whether or not we are working and
whether or not we are married. Yet we do not know whether
or not we have eternal life!
Most
persons know where their destination is when they're traveling
somewhere. Yet ask them where their final destination
will be – where they will be living forever –
and very few know!
The
Misunderstanding
The
misunderstanding revolves around what is involved in attaining
eternal life. So long as a person thinks that he must
earn his way into the presence of God. He can never be
certain that he is going to Heaven.
If
you were to ask the average person what one must do to
have eternal life, he would probably answer by listing
one or more of the following items:
1.
Join a church.
2. Be baptized or confirmed.
3. Live a good life.
4. Obey the Ten Commandments.
5. Live by the Sermon on the Mount.
6. Go to church regularly.
7. Follow the teachings and example of Christ.
Now,
all of these represent something that man does, or tries
to do. They reflect the popular idea that eternal life
in Heaven is a reward to be won.
But
Jesus said:
“Now
this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
(John 17:3)
The
Bible further makes it clear that we cannot win or earn
our way to Heaven. Eternal life is not a reward for what
we have done or tried to do; it is a free gift.
The
Gift
The
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
– not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
So
long as a person thinks that he must earn his way into
the presence of God, he can never be certain that he is
going to Heaven. The Bible teaches that we must realize
that we cannot be good enough, that we cannot merit or
work our way to Heaven – and that we do not need
to! But we are to realize, instead, that the way to Heaven
has been opened by what Jesus Christ has done for us.
No matter how bad or good we may be, or think we are,
any one of us can qualify.
Assurance
of our salvation.
“These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God.” 1 John 5:13
You see, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our
sins – yours and mine – by
His death on the cross. He paid for eternal life, and
now He offers it to you and to me as a free gift. By simply
recognizing our need for a divine Savior, by turning from
going our own way, and by accepting God's payment for
our sins and our salvation, the matter of our eternal
destiny is immediately resolved.
“Dear
God, I know I am a sinner, and unable to save myself.
But I do believe you love me, and that you sent
your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.
“Right here and now, Lord Jesus, I repent
of my sins and I invite you to come into my heart,
forgive my every sin, and grant me your gift of
eternal life.
“Thank you dear Lord for hearing and answering
my prayer, and for coming into my heart and life,
as you promised you would. Amen.”
