BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE

“There are no guarantees in life, but I believe faith provides all of us with a foundation to live the best lives possible – knowing that there is a higher being who loves us and will never leave us. Through the many struggles in my life, my faith is sometimes the only thing I have to hold onto. God was my only friend.” –  Gretchen Carlson.

The Alabama Crimson Tide has been a college football dynasty for the last decade. Alabama’s recent surge of success has caused Crimson Tide home games to become a hot commodity. Alabama’s waiting list for season tickets exceeded 32,000. There is no assurance that you will ever get to the top of the waiting list, nor is there any assurance that you will be able to get tickets to the big games without paying an arm or leg.

It’s challenging to have assurance about many things in life.  You can’t be assured that you will live another day. You can’t be assured you will live a life free of suffering. You can’t be assured you will always have money if you have any now. You can’t be assured of good health or that you will not grieve the loss of a job, property, a child, or a spouse. You can’t be assured that you will be treated justly and fairly or that life will always be fair to you. You cannot be assured that you will not make poor choices or fall victim to temptation. You cannot be assured that your children will not disappoint you or live a life that is contrary to the values that you have taught them.

However, Jesus did promise that we could be assured of our salvation. Jesus wants us to be assured that death holds no claim on us. If we come to him with a humble spirit, filled with repentance, and place our lives in His hands, we will be saved.  Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is our passport to eternal and abundant life.

The repentant thief who was crucified beside Jesus exemplified this assurance. He had committed crimes, and the Romans wanted to make an example of him to put fear into the people’s hearts. The unrepentant thief was ridiculing Jesus, which prompted the other criminal to say, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”  (Luke 23: 40-41). He went on to say to Jesus. “…remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

His passport was stamped.  The last emotion that the criminal felt on the cross was assurance.  His sins were forgiven.  The burden of sin was lifted. He left all his baggage behind.  He didn’t take any earthly possessions with him into eternity.  None of that mattered.  As he closed his eyes on the cross and died, that criminal made his way home.

We have that same assurance. We can have the assurance of heaven, the grace of God, His inheritance, mercy, and the right to be called His child.   

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do I need assurance of salvation?
2. What brings assurance of salvation into my life?