how to be sure...

There's probably more uncertainty about the most important matter in the world than about any other. Let me illustrate:

     If you were to ask 100 people at random about the economy, politics, or pollution, you would get a fairly definite opinion from most.
     But ask the same 100 people, "Are you going to Heaven when you die?" The vast majority would answer with varying degrees of doubt--"I don't know"..."I'm working on it"..."I have no idea"..."I'm not sure."
     Many of these same people 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 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 travelers know where their destination is. Yet ask them where their final destination will be--where they will be living forever--and very few know!
     This uncertainty comes from a misunderstanding of what is involved in attaining eternal life and going to Heaven. If you were to ask the average person what one much do to have eternal life, his answer would probably include one or more of the following:

-Live a good life.
-Obey the Ten Commandments.
-Join a church and attend regularly.
-Love your fellow man.
-Be baptized and/or confirmed.
-Follow the teachings and example of Christ.

     All of these represent something that people do or try to do. They reflect the popular idea that eternal life in Heaven is a reward to be earned.
     But the Bible states clearly 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 free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23) "God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (Ephesians 2:8,9)
     So long as we think that we must earn our way into the presence of God, we can never deserve Heaven. Most of us realize that we are not good enough to measure up to God's perfect standards. And for us to say, "I know I'm going to Heaven", sounds like the ultimate in pride and boasting if Heaven is reached through good works.

-The only sure answer-

     The Bible, however, teaches that we cannot be good enough, that we cannot work our way to Heaven--and that we do not need to! We are to realize, instead, that Jesus Christ has opened the way to Heaven for us. No matter how bad we may be, any of us can qualify.
     The Bible says, "For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what His law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it. But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight--not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we can all be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done" (Romans 3:20-22)
     You see, God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to pay for our sins--yours and mine--by His death on the cross. Having completely paid our sin penalty, He rose from the dead and now offers eternal life to you and me as a gift. By simply recognizing our need for a divine Savior, and by accepting Christ's payment for our sins and our salvation, we can have the matter of our eternal destiny immediately resolved.
     This is the way--the only way--to know for sure that you have eternal life.

-Do you have this assurance?-

     If not, you can gain this assurance right here and now. How? The Bible says, speaking of Christ: "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
     Have you recieved Him?
     How, you still ask?
     Well, let me illustrate by comparing your life to your home. In the last book of the Bible, Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear Me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends" (Revelation 3:20)
     It's up to you to open the door of your life to Christ. Are you willing to invite Jesus to come in and change your life? Are you willing to place all of your trust and confidence in Him rather than in your own works? If so, let me suggest that you complete the transaction by praying something like this:

     "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, I ask you to remove my every sin and give me the gift of eternal life. Thank You, dear God, for hearing and answering my prayer, and for giving me eternal life as You promised You would. Amen."

     In closing, let me remind you that the Bible says, "I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13)

                                                                      --Arthur S. DeMoss
                                                                            (1925-1979)