My old Sunday School teacher Dennis would often tell us, “I know that I know that I know if I died today, I would go to Heaven.” He knew in his heart and soul and there was no doubt in his mind whatsoever, none.
I have never had that undeniable assurance about my soul, never. I was about 13 when I walked down the aisle at Ratcliff Baptist church and prayed what the Pastor told me to pray and he baptized me. I did not feel anything different inside my soul. One day I told my grandma Lovelace that I was not sure I was saved. She immediately said,” you better make sure you are.”
One Sunday morning when I was 19, I was at West Fullerton Baptist Church in Fullerton, CA. During the invitation I felt drawn by the Holy Spirit to go forward and make sure I was saved. I gripped the pew in front of me so hard. I felt the Lord tell me, “You take the first step and I will take the rest.” I did and I prayed that prayer again asked God to come into my heart. Brother Les Fletcher baptized me again.
For the next 48 years I have lived my life believing I was a Christian. After all, I prayed that prayer twice, baptized twice, surely, I was saved. For some reason I have always questioned my salvation. I could not say, “I know that I know that I know if I died today, I would go to Heaven.” I bothered me until yesterday at our church in Hardy, AR, Fellowship Southern Baptist Church, Brother Kenny Freeman preached on this passage from the Word of God.
Matthew 7: 21-23…… 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
For me, these are the scariest verses in God’s Word. I can’t image the feeling of my soul hearing those words from Jesus. No one can imagine that feeling. I knew I had to know for certain that I was not going to hear those words when I die. At the first key of the piano I went forward, and I prayed to God like never before to save me. I asked Him to come into my heart, and I will surrender to Him. Immediately I felt it. I knew that I could now say, “ I know that I know that I know if I died today, I would go to Heaven.” I had to have no doubt in my mind.
I love Jesus and I have lived a life that would be mostly pleasing to Him. What if he said, “ James, I know you lived for me and did many things in my name and loved others deeply but James I never knew you. “ ( in other words, you never knew Me). Just saying a sinner’s prayer and getting baptized did not lock it for me. I had to know deep in my soul, without any doubt anymore.
I think where we go wrong in life is we go on, after we are saved, thinking that since I prayed that prayer, it’s all good, I am going to heaven. But we tend to live our lives without obedience to God’s Word because we have our ticket and it is punched to Heaven. We forget the importance of having a daily personal relationship with Christ and how much that means to Him. If we have that personal relationship with our Saviour, He will know us when we arrive in Heaven and we will know Him.
I am not about to try to tell Jesus all I have done for Him. He knows my heart. It is not about our works, it is about that personal, daily walk with Jesus. Sure Jesus loves all we do in His name…. but works does not count when it comes to salvation. Not at all, not one bit. Talking with Him, reaching out to Him and thanking Him, praising Him, loving Him etc. Then the doubt that Satan so easily wants us to feel is gone. “James, I know you and you know me. Enter eternity in Heaven with Me.” His words may not be those, but I am confident now that Jesus will know me as His child.” From this day forward I will continue to build my relationship with Jesus to be closer and closer in my walk with Him. Hand in hand walk with me Jesus.
Jim Everett
