One morning the Sunday school teacher told a Bible story about a rich young man who asked the Lord Jesus how he could have eternal life. Jesus knew this young man’s heart and that he thought he was a pretty good person, so Jesus decided to give him a little test. He told him he needed to keep the law in order to have eternal life. The man said he had obeyed the law since he was a little boy! To show the man that he really didn’t love his neighbor as himself, which the law required, Jesus told him to go and sell everything he owned and give all his money to poor people. Then he should come and follow Him.
The children listened well but felt sad to hear that the young man turned away from Jesus. The man didn’t want to sell everything he owned and give away all his money to poor people; his money was more important to him than having eternal life. All Jesus really wanted the man to do was to confess that he was a sinner and ask Jesus to save him.
It’s not by GIVING away all our money or by DOING anything that we receive eternal life. The children in Sunday school were able to answer the question, “How do we get saved?” Some of them had learned Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) and could repeat it by heart: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Many of them knew that they had been lost sinners, but they had asked Jesus to wash their sins away in His blood. They knew they would go to heaven someday. But some of them didn’t FEEL saved and so weren’t sure about their sins being gone.
Six-year-old Tony had this problem. He raised his hand after hearing this story and said wistfully, “I wish there was a way we could KNOW FOR SURE that we are saved.” Lots of children and grown-ups also have this same wish. Unlike the rich young man, they have confessed to Jesus that they are sinners and asked Him to wash them clean, but they aren’t perfectly sure that this has actually taken place. It’s hard for them to understand that BY FAITH they need to believe that Jesus has done what He has promised to do. Jesus never goes back on His Word!
It reminded me of what a lady told about her son John. When he was about the same age, he came to her and said, “Mom, I’ve asked the Lord Jesus to save me so many times I can’t count them anymore, and I’ve had it. I guess I’ll just have to believe!”
Yes! That is all we can do—just believe! Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9) tells us, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
How would you feel if you told your friend something and he said, “I’m not sure I can believe that”? Instead of looking for some physical proof that Jesus really washed your sins away, just believe what He said and rest on His promises. “He that believeth on the Son [Jesus] hath everlasting life” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). Tony was assured that believing what Jesus said in the Bible was a more solid foundation than relying on our feelings of being saved. Jesus said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). Believe His promises, and you will have peace in your heart!
ML-08/19/2012