Game Changing Words: Assurance
Good Morning,
“We guaranty that you will be 70% satisfied or your money back.” You don’t see commercials that promise partial assurance of satisfaction. Why? Because people desire complete assurance in virtually all realms of life. Be it in human relationships, finances, job security, retirement and especially in their beliefs about God and eternity. Assurance is the last of our 5 game changing words.
Assurance is freedom from doubt; a sense of certainty that something is true, will happen and that everything will be OK. We see this last game-changing word demonstrated by Jesus in the encounter with the criminals that hung on either side of Him on the cross (See Luke 23).
As one of the criminal’s mocks Jesus, the other literally has a “come to Jesus” moment. He admits not only that he is a sinner and is getting what he deserves but acknowledges that Jesus is not; that He has done nothing wrong. Jesus turns to this man in his moment of repentance and offers him beautiful assurance. He says, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). There is so much here it would take weeks to unpack so here instead are three truths you must embrace if you want assurance for eternity.
1. There is a belief that leads to assurance. This belief is much more than intellectual understanding or acknowledgement. It is a belief that demonstrates a desperate need for the forgiveness Jesus offers. If you had a terminal illness and there was a cure available, nothing would stop you from getting it. You would do whatever it takes because without it you will die. Knowledge of a cure does nothing for you. Actually receiving the cure is all that will help. That kind of desperation describes the belief that leads to assurance. It is a belief changes everything about your heart, focus and actions. It is literally, life altering.
2. Being good is not good enough. My dad lived a devout life. He was faithful to his church. He was faithful to my mom and us as kids. He gave sacrificially to the work of the Kingdom. And when he passed away two years ago, he went to heaven. Yet he is there not because of all the good he did, but because of what Jesus did for him. The criminal on the cross had no list of good deeds. We will meet him one day in heaven not because he was good, but because Jesus was good on this behalf. The person has not lived who can be good enough – except Jesus.
3. You can know. 1 John 5:13 clearly states that if you choose Jesus, you have absolute assurance. “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.” You can live in complete assurance that no matter the chaos in the world, your past mistakes, or current struggles, that your acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice assures you of heaven. As we learned last week it is a hope firm and secure, an anchor for the soul. Doubt is removed and replaced with certainty.
The beautiful truth of Scripture is that you can have assurance. The question is, do you?
Questions to ponder:
1) What does (or would) the assurance of life in heaven, do for you here on earth?
2) What keeps you from making the choice that leads to assurance?
3) If you are wrestling with this issue, please feel free to email me at www.ron@road2legacy.com
Live on purpose, Ron Klopfenstein, CPLC
