So That You May Know

So That You May Know

This is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So whoever has God’s Son has life; whoever does not have his Son does not have life. I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. –1 John 5:11-13

In my town, many people grew up in a church where they were never offered assurance of eternal life. It was dangled in front of them as something they could never be certain of. According to this church, if you forsake the denomination or fail to follow its teaching closely enough, you are out. It is sad to me that believers who have long since left that church and its teachings still wrangle with fear when approaching death because they aren’t sure of eternal life.

The town I grew up in had another church with people who could not rest in the confidence of eternal life. But it wasn’t faithfulness to the church that was the key issue—it was unconfessed sin. They believed that if there was a sin you neglected to confess and death came, you could be left out.

But the greatest number of people who have no confidence of heaven are those who have accepted conventional wisdom that says heaven is for “good” people—people who haven’t murdered anybody or committed any “big” sins. They have believed two lies that have deadly consequences. Lie number one is that being good is what gets you into heaven. Lie number two is that if they try hard enough they can be good enough for God’s holy heaven.

The real tragedy is, God never intended that we live in fear and uncertainty, wondering if we will make it to heaven. The equation is simple: “Whoever has God’s Son has life” (1 John 5:12). But so many are content just trying to be good enough and thereby deeming Jesus unnecessary. You do not have to wonder about or fear where death will lead you or those you love. Confidence that God has already given you eternal life—not because you have been faithful to a church or because you have confessed every sin or because you have been good enough, but solely because you are hidden in Jesus—this is what offers peace and joy for now and forever.

Son of God, thank you for giving me life and for giving me the confidence that this life in you and with you will last forever.

DIGGING DEEPER