| How Can I Know? How Can I Be Sure? "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God . . . and he who believes in the name of the Son of God can know that he has eternal life." I John 5:1, 13 Why do we often have trouble with this . . . when it tells us right there in God's Word, plain as day; it's right there in black and white . . . ? Why then are we reluctant to say, "Yes, I have eternal life! Yes, I'm going to heaven when I die."? Why do we continue to live with doubts that come from the enemy? For God is not a God of doubts! Doubt and fear are principal weapons in satan's militia. And he has been very successful in using them on God's children throughout the ages. Just by planting one small doubt: "This sin (whatever it may be) is too big to be forgiven" -- he can destroy our hope and steal our joy. Just one well-placed arrow of fear: "Better tow the line; you've gotta be as good as you can . . . or you won't make it to heaven" -- can reduce a Christian to great despair, depression, and even to giving up all together. Wake up, dear friends! Read and study and ask God to reveal the truths in His Word to you . . . make it personal. Take it to heart. God has made promises to His children. And He's a Father who keeps His promises. Claim those promises and walk in them. This is one of His promises: nothing can separate you from the love of God . . . not death or life, angels or demons, not present or future or any powers, not height or depth or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). Another promise is that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. If we have the Son, we have life. If we don't have the Son, we do not have life. And those who believe in the name of the Son of God have assurance and sure knowledge that they have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13). There it is. It's all very simple, really. However, it does require faith on our part to grasp it, to believe it, to claim it, to walk in it, and to live it day by day. Ask your Father for such a faith . . . it doesn't take a lot of faith, just a great faith . . . in Him. . . . ask and ye shall receive . . . |
| How Can I Know? |
| By Shari Gunter |