You cannot be sure unless you have faith.
The Hebrews writer penned that “…without faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).
You cannot be sure unless you have repented
of your sins. Luke recorded these words, “I tell you, Nay:
but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke
13:3). Repentance is “more than an ice-melting affair, it is
an ice-breaking affair.” Repentance is not “your heart being
broken for sin, but it is your heart being broken from sin.”
You cannot be sure unless you have confessed
the name of Christ, with your mouth and continue to do
so with your life. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall
confess me before men, him will I confess also before
my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny
me before men, him will I also deny before my Father
which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33; cf, Rom. 10:10).
You cannot be sure unless you have been born
anew. Jesus told Nicodemus, “…Except one be born
anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God … Except one
be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God” (John 3:3; cf. Acts 2:38). Yes,
baptism is essential to salvation (1 Pet. 3:21).
You cannot be sure unless you are in the Lord’s
church. In order to be saved, you must be where the saved
are. Luke wrote, “praising God, and having favor with
all the people. And the Lord added to them [the church]
day by day those that were saved” (Acts 2:47; cf. Col.
1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).
You cannot be sure unless you are worshipping
God correctly. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they
that worship him must worship him in spirit [right attitude]
and in truth [New Testament authority] (John 4:24).” To
add to, or to deviate from authorized worship, is to transgress
the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9).
You cannot be sure unless you are living a holy
life. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).
Are you really sure you are saved? Are you giving
the Lord your all? You see, “you do not value God at all if
you do not value Him above all.” The Judgment Day does
not have to be a day of surprise for you. Do not be like
Felix who said, “When I have a convenient season.” Do
not make light of the opportunity you have this day to obey
the Lord. We are never promised a second opportunity.
Your opportunity may very well either be now…or never.
Author Unknown
From The Southwesterner, 2008
