Assured

“If you should lose your life tonight, do you have the assurance that you will open your eyes in Heaven?”  Many a swoopy-haired evangelist has used that baited query to entice people forward during an altar call. Some of you have been in attendance at one of those revival meetings, and heard that age old question.  We all want to be sure, but are you?  Is it possible to be assured a place in Heaven? While some churches will tell you that salvation is a life-long process involving works, church attendance and repeatedly asking for God’s mercy,  I am here to say that if  that is the case, then what good did Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension do? Either his sacrificial actions, on our behalf, were sufficient, or he was a liar!  There is nothing in between!!  Verse after verse of scripture confirms God’s promise to us.  The one we all know, John 3:16 says, “"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Or how about John 6:47, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.” Did you ever stop to think what the word “believe” means?  I can tell you what it isn’t.  It’s not blindly following some church doctrine, and hoping for the best at the end.  Believing means searching out, for yourself, who Christ is, and making a profession of faith/belief, based on the results of that search. From that point of conversion on, we are to live a life centered in Him.  Will there be times we mess up? Absolutely, but unless we flat out reject him, God he is willing to forgive, just don’t make a habit of it. The thief on the cross is my favorite example.  He had been watching Jesus as they nailed him to the tree. Perhaps he had even seen him heal a neighbor, or heard him preach a sermon, but he had come to a conclusion about him.  He was certain that he was the son of God, and he asked him this, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus answered,  "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." This man, who never did a good deed, wasn’t baptized, or received a sacrament, died with the blessed assurance of paradise, all because he BELIEVED.  Can you say the same?  Do you really BELIEVE?  Are you sure, and assured of your place in paradise?