by Prisca | 10 September 2024 08:46 pm09
If you do, that is a good thing. But let me ask: What gives you that assurance?
Is it your faith?
Your church denomination?
Your good deeds?
Or something else?
If it is faith alone that you believe in Jesus and therefore assume that you will surely go with Him when He comes then understand this:
It is possible to believe in Him, and yet not go with Him when He returns.
If it is your denomination that gives you confidence, know that belonging to a certain church or religious group is not enough.
Even with the best denomination and the most respected church name, you may still miss the day of His return.
Is it your good deeds that assure you?
That you don’t steal, you don’t curse, you help others, you’re morally upright?
If your assurance is based solely on good works, then you may still miss Him when He comes.
So, what truly gives someone the sure guarantee that they will go with the Lord when He returns?
Let us look for the answer directly from the words of the Lord Jesus Himself, the One who is coming again:
“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””
So what is the true mark of someone who will see the Lord on that Day?
It’s not denomination because Nicodemus belonged to one of the strictest, most respected sects of Judaism: the Pharisees (see Acts 26:5).
It’s not merely faith in God because Nicodemus already believed in God and acknowledged Jesus as being from God.
Yet, Jesus told him:
“You must be born again.”
This means that faith alone, religious affiliation, and even good works are not sufficient.
What Jesus emphasizes is a spiritual transformation a complete rebirth in the Spirit.
Jesus explains further:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
To be “born of water and Spirit” refers to:
When someone is born again, they become a new creation in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us,
not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
So, the question is:
Have you received the Holy Spirit?
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit as a sign and seal of your belonging to Christ?
Those who are filled with the Spirit are led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14).
They do not live according to the world’s standards.
They are transformed from within seeking things above, not the things of this world.
Someone filled with the Spirit cannot live in darkness, nor enjoy the sinful patterns of this world. Instead, they become light in the darkness.
If you are not sure whether you would go with the Lord if He returned today, it’s time to get that assurance not from assumptions or religious traditions, but through the new birth in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you’re thinking:
“When He comes, God knows whether I’ll go with Him or not.”
But think about this illustration:
A thief announces he will come to harm you at night.
Would you simply say, “Well, he knows whether he will harm me or not”?
Or would you take precautions?
If you don’t prepare, it’s almost guaranteed the thief will succeed. But if you secure yourself, you’ll know whether or not he can harm you.
In the same way, we must not leave our eternity up to vague assumptions.
We must not say, “God knows” as if He will just decide for us on that day.
No we must be sure now.
If we leave the decision up to Him without aligning with His Word, we make Him out to be partial or unfair but God is not partial.
“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”
So be certain. Be born again.
Not through religion.
Not through good deeds.
But through faith in Christ that leads to a new birth by the Holy Spirit.
Maranatha The Lord is coming. Are you ready?
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2024/09/10/do-you-have-the-assurance-that-if-the-lord-jesus-returns-today-you-will-go-with-him/
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