Monthly Archives: June 2015

Weekly Devotional 6-28-15 The Assurance of Heaven

Weekly Devotional 6-28-15 The Assurance of Heaven

That you are reading this testifies that you exist. You have life, but as all other persons your life will someday end. What then, will it be heaven or hell? Given what the writer of Hebrews stated is true, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NKJV), what follows for you? What follows for me? Does your or my future lie in heaven or will it be in hell? No greater question could possibly be asked unless it be; What determines where I will go after death? And, if heaven is my destination what assurance do I have for this?

In answering the first question, “What determines where I will go after death?” we could turn to the inspired letter of Paul, the Apostle to the Ephesians and read, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV). We could turn to the Apostle John’s inspired testimony. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36 NKJV).

Paul testifies that one is saved (justified) by the unmerited favor, the grace of God and that eternal life (being saved) cannot be earned by any kind or amount of works. John testifies that everlasting life (eternal life in the presence of God) is predicated on believing in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Further, he adds that anyone who does not trust in the Son for their salvation will face the wrath of God, eternal damnation. In essence, John said that unless a person trusts in Christ for their salvation they cannot be saved.

In answering the second question, “If heaven is my destination what assurance do I have for this?” We again turn to Paul the Apostle and read from his letter to the Romans. “31b If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:28-39 NKJV).

Paul writes that nothing can separate us (we whom the Son has saved) from the love of God. Our security rests in that love. Jesus Himself said, “27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-30 NKJV).

So yes, you and I, that is, we who have believed God and trusted in His provision, namely Jesus Christ, have the assurance of heaven.

stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power, The Work of God on Behalf of Man

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