How can I be sure that I am saved and on my way to heaven? How can I let go of all doubts, including, does God really exist? How did I get here? Or how do I know the Bible is the only true Word of God? And how can I know what it means, and how to interpret it for my life, even if it is true?
The answer to these questions is so hard and so far removed from me; yet, it is so easy and so close to me. Let me be the first to admit I am not able to answer the questions one may have, at least to the point of satisfaction for everyone. I can only answer them to my satisfaction, and to the degree that it has given me deep settled peace.
It all begins with me and one simple word, FAITH. What is faith? The scripture teaches that “faith is being sure (evidence) of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 We can’t see faith, we can only hope for it. And for some reason, God gave me just a small measure of grace, to take a leap of faith. And that is, as Francis Schaeffer has said, “we must all take a leap of faith.”
But how do we know we can trust the scripture? We don’t, except for that one small measure of faith. But that small measure allows us to know it is God’s Word to us. Why, because He said it. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1. So, if He is the Word, and if He exists, the Word must be true.
But how can I believe God made me if I don’t know that He exists? Again, that is how simple faith comes into play. If the Word says that God and the Word are one in the same, then the Word must be true, if God is real, because He says it is. And my little ounce of faith makes me believe in God. I believe in God, because I exist; I am here. I Know I exist because I think, I feel, I move and act. That I am here is a fact that I would have little problem proving. And if I am here, someone had to put me here. It is much easier to believe I am here by creation, than to believe I came from a monkey. So, if something or someone made me, it must have been a creator. That creator is God. He was, is, and always will be is a fact I believe by that little grain of faith, even though I can’t see or touch Him physically.
If God does not give one enough grace to believe the premise that He exists, then there is probably little chance of Him believing in the “things hoped” for, or the evidence of “things not seen” which follow. But it is impossible for me to believe this marvelous creation, in which we live is here by accident. The earth, the sky the moon, stars, planets, trees, plant life animals and all living beings, could not have come into being by an explosion. There has to be a creator, and that is God.
If one can accept God is, and that the Word exists, and is true, then it is much easier to accept our responsibility from the Word. What then does the Word say about eternal life, and how to find joy and peace in this world as we wait for His coming?
There is a special plan from the Word that we can follow. It begins, with God’s invitation. Christ says, “Here I am. I stand at the door and Knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me”. Rev.3: 20. That is an open invitation for all men of all ages. He is standing at our hearts door, knocking, calling, and pleading to be let in.
If that is true, and it is true, how can I open the door? How can I accept His invitation? First of all, I must be ready. I must be prepared to open the door when I hear Him knock. But how can I be prepared and ready for Him? I must admit that I am lost, that I am in despair, and without hope. Remember that Faith is something we hope for. I must be aware that I am a sinner, and doomed, unless, God does exist, and His grace can save me. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “There is no one who does good, not even one” Romans 3:12, and the way of peace, they do not know. Rom. 3:17. And what will be the punishment, or the wages of that sin? “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 someone has to pay the debts of our sin. If these debts are left unpaid, we face eternal death. But He doesn’t stop there. Those wages have already been paid by his death on the cross. He says, “The gift that he freely gives us is eternal life” This is not something we have to pay for or work for. This is a free gift from God’s son, directly to us. He then goes on to show exactly how to open the door.
“That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart, you believe, and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10 “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Rom: 10:13.
So to sum it all up, I first have to take a leap of faith to believe God exists, and that I am without hope if He is not with me. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All includes me. If this is true, and it is true, someone has to pay. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. When I realize that, I take another leap of faith, to open my heart to Him. I must open my door, and permit him to come in. Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in. Revelation 3:20. When I do that, I become a born again believer and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within me. I will be saved. Now that is not to say I will be perfect, I only begin a growth process that will last, until I come into His presence at death. I will fall, I will sin. But when I do, I must get up, dust myself off and get ready to fall again. From here it is one day at a time, one step at a time until I see Him face to face.
Dock Caton
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