1 John 5:11-13 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” NIV
One of the three year olds in a parent-tot drop in I run has been going through a very cute stage. Whenever she is asked something which she either doesn’t have the answer for, or she would rather not give the answer to, she responds in a little sing song voice with these words-I don’t know–.
I don’t know is often our answer as well when others ask us deep and probing questions about why God allows certain things to happen in our world. We may be Christians, followers of Christ, wholehearted believers in God, yet this does not mean we possess the answer to all things spiritual for has not God said:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
There is one very important spiritual question however which we can all respond to with a definite answer. That question is: how can anyone know for sure that they are going to heaven? The apostle John revealed this when he wrote:
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 john 5:11-12 NIV)
These two verses make it very clear that we can know our eternal destiny. We can know what awaits us at the end of this life, for he who has the Son has life while he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. There is no maybe here. There is no perhaps only certainty regarding ones destiny according to this, the word of God.
Do you have the Son in your life? Have you trusted Him as the Christ, the forgiver of men’s sin, the redeemer of mankind? Has his forgiveness been applied to your heart by faith? If so then God has given you eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
So the next time someone asks you this very important question, or asks how they can know their eternal destiny, the response I don’t know is no longer an option for indeed we have “The Answer!”
Prayer: Father God, thank you that none of us have to hang in limbo concerning what awaits us at the end of this earthly life. Your word makes it clear that we can know our destiny. Bless us this day with joy as we contemplate this wondrous truth and with courage to spread The Answer to all who may still be seeking. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen
Lynne Phipps lynnephipps@hotmail.com
Atlin, BC