Why do so many people pray to a living God and believe in Jesus Christ, but down deep in their hearts, they just don’t feel much faith? Ever wonder? Perhaps you are there right now. The Bible says that God has given us His Word, the Bible, so that you may know that you are saved. But you are thinking, “Just doesn’t seem to work for me….” The next three minutes may be the most important of your day.
A little boy was staying with his aged aunt, whose weathered face resembled a dried prune, and candidly asked, “When are you going to turn into a frog?” Somewhat taken aback, she replied, “Well, I hadn’t planned on it… Why?” “Well,” continued the little boy, “Daddy said that we would get a lot of money when you croak.”
O.K. Suppose you had a rich aunt somewhere, anywhere, and you didn’t know she even existed, but she knew you existed, and she left you a lot of money in her will. The minute she died, you became very, very rich. You like the idea, right? But the attorney who executed the will didn’t know your name and address, and so the great search began. It took him a long time to run you down, and by then the money you inherited was worth even a lot more because of the interest. One day, there is a knock on your door. The attorney who represented your rich aunt introduced himself and said, “I have very good news for you. May I come in?” He begins. “Your father is so‑and‑so, right?” You nod your head. “Well, he had a spinster sister, and she died naming you as the lucky person who will inherit all her money.”
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. John 3:3
How does that make you feel? Chances are you would be skeptical. I know I would. I’d probably say, “Just a minute, who did you say you are?” But he says, “Call your bank and ask if the money has not been deposited to your account.” How long would it take you to get excited? Here’s my point. The moment she died and left you the money, you became a millionaire, but you didn’t get excited until the knowledge really sank in.
The knowledge of your salvation rests upon three facts that are not subject to your feelings.
Fact one—Jesus Christ lived and died and rose again. The Bible puts it so simply, stating, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; He was buried, and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4). How you feel about this has nothing to do with the truth of the statement.
Fact two—the Bible promises eternal life to all who will come to Him and receive Him as Lord and Savior. It says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become His children, even to those who believe on His name” (John 1:12).
The third fact is that you prayed, you really prayed, to receive this gift of life, right? If you answer, “Yes!” then I have to say, on the authority of God’s Word, you have this great gift of life right now.
Perhaps you have been confusing three words: faith, feeling, and fact. We often put feelings first. We trust our emotions as though they were the voice of God within. Put facts first. What has God said? Then, put faith next. Respond to what He has written and believe it. Finally, put emotions behind faith. The emotions will come and you will thank God for it. You will know that you have eternal life, and you can know that right now.
Resource reading: Romans 10:1-13.
