As Christians, we do not have to guess about where we will spend eternity. The Bible was written so that we might know.
1 John 5:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
If you are a Christian, the devil wants you to doubt your salvation. Doubt breeds fear, and fear leads to having a tormented soul, robbing one of the joy of being in Christ. Listen to what John wrote about fear and love.
1 John 4:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
The love of God is the foundation of our salvation. God sacrificed His one and only Son to save the world (John 3:16). As Christians, we have taken advantage of that love by obeying the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).
We know that we have been set free from sin, having been cleansed by the blood of Christ. What is the result of this new freedom in Christ? Paul said, “having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Paul was referring to the wrath of God, something we now do not have to worry about as Christians. Because of this, we can have boldness in the day of judgment.
How can we be so sure that we are truly Christians, and that we have eternal life? It is because of what is written. The Word of God assures us of our present salvation if we are living faithfully as God’s children.
Romans 8:15-17 (NKJV)
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…
The Spirit has borne witness with our spirit through the Word of God. He revealed what we must do to become God’s children, and we know that we have done what is necessary. There is no guesswork. We have followed the plan that God has set forth, as revealed by Spirit, and now we know that we have the gift of salvation (Acts 2:38).
Do not allow the devil to rob you of your joy in Christ. If you have done what the Spirit has revealed in the Bible, you have been saved, and no one can take that salvation away from you.
John 10:27-29 (ESV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.