Simply put… this hits the nail on the head!

KNOWING A Word From Bill Young

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Two different funeral stories happened two weeks ago — similar stories, but different endings. Both involve the hope of eternity, but one is misplaced while the other is right on the money. One involved someone I’d never met, and the other was a friend.

The first story was related to me through a friend who had recently attended a funeral. At this memorial service, it was reported that as the deceased man lay on his deathbed he had been told by his spiritual leaders, “You’ve done enough good works to go to heaven. You are ready to die.” This was supposed to give hope to family and friends.

The second story happened a few days before a member of our church passed away, my friend Korey Hawke. As I visited with him in the hospital, we spoke of eternity, healing, and being with Jesus. After I prayed for him, we both rejoiced in the fact that he would be in heaven someday, but not because of any good works he had done (he had been sick and practically bedridden for 22 years). We talked about the mercy of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for our sins. And since Korey had placed his faith in Christ’s sacrificial atonement on the cross, THAT is why he would be with God in heaven for all eternity!
Two different stories. Two different eternities. How can we know which is true? Thankfully, the Bible is very clear about this.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:4-5b). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Heaven is not something we earn. Salvation is a gift of God freely given to those who repent, humble themselves, and receive it. Have you made the right choice? Click here to find out more about how you can know for sure that you are going to heaven. Isn’t it good to know you can KNOW? Your eternity depends on it.

Resting in God’s truth,
Bill