Conclusions
Each issue stated above can be
given a probability: 0%, 100% or some other percentage between those. As we look
at each issue separately, their probabilities change between 0 and 100 percent
in our mind, depending on how probable we think they are.
But what does it mean that we
give different percentages to these issues? What does it mean if we think their
probability is for example 0%, 20% or 100%? We try to answer this through the
next examples:
If probability is 0%
Firstly, if we think that the
probability of all of the previous issues is 0%, it means that we think they are
not true. This is really true because whether these issues are true or false,
will be false if we think so. It also means that we claim that Jesus and the
first Apostles were liars, which in itself is a huge accusation. Then, we think
that we are a greater authority and expert in these issues than anyone else.
Therefore, concerning the
previous points, it is good to think where they come from: from Heaven or from
men, are they true or false because these are the only alternatives available.
We are also guided to that by the next description referring to the meeting of
Jesus and the Pharisees at the time when the situation was similar. Also then,
Jesus gave only two alternatives, of which one was right. It is good for us too
to think whether the previous verses are true and what they mean in our own
life:
- (Mark 11:27-33) They arrived
again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief
priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
28. “By what authority are you
doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
29. Jesus replied, “I will ask you
one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these
things.
30. John’s baptism-was
it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”
31. They discussed it among
themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, he will ask, ‘Then why
didn’t you believe him?’
32. But if we say, ‘From men’
. . . .” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a
prophet.)
33. So they answered Jesus, “We
don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing
these things.”
If probability is 20%
If it is thought
that the probability of the above
is, for example, 20%, it is quite a high probability.
The probability that people
will in the lottery and in other similar games is less than one millionth, and
yet they try to win these prizes: probability of 20% is many times more than
that. It is even more than that for throwing the dice and getting a six on the
first go; in other words, it is quite probable that this happens. Therefore,
think about your life and eternal destiny. Your own life and soul are more
valuable than any lottery prize, bank account, or anything on earth. The Bible
indicates that God gave his one and only Son also for you, and if it is true,
your soul is really valuable. Therefore, do not reject the gift of God’s eternal
life, but receive it and turn to Him. This life can be received from Him in one
moment:
How could it be otherwise? Assume
that I offer you a gift. In that moment you don't yet have the gift. In the very
next moment you do. The gift must move from my hand to yours in a second.
Eternal life is a gift. There is a moment when you don't have it. And then there
is another moment when you have it. There must be a specific moment when you
receive it. There is no other way. There is no knowledge of any case in which
the conversion would have been gradual. Eternal life is always received
instantly.
When did it happen to you?
Where did it take place? Has there been a moment in your life when you stepped
forward, knelt at the altar, talked to a pastoral care worker? Have you received
Jesus Christ as your Savior? How did it take place? Perhaps you don't know the
exact moment or hour, but do you know that it has happened? Are you sure that
you have had this experience? If so, let me once again say, that it happened in
one moment. (1)
If probability is 100%
The third alternative is that the
probability of the previous issues is 100%, meaning they really are true. This
alternative is the only one left, if we assume the previous issues were true.
But what does this then mean in
your life? Does it have any meaning?
The answer is, of course, that if
the previous statements are true, you should turn to God right now and receive
His grace. For when you are living your one and only life, you will not get a
change to change your mind: you will be left with the decision you have made
here. If your decision is no, and you reject grace, it is too late to turn back
from damnation. In some computer software, you can take back some decisions, but
once you have crossed the border, it is no longer possible.
Therefore, as your life is
valuable and God wants to save you, do not take long in turning to Him. Let Him
save yourself before it is too late so that you will not pass your time of
grace:
Finally, one day the young man who
had been healed walked briskly onto Moody’s porch. “Mr Moody,” he said by
holding out his hand, “I have come to say goodbye. I am going to the west”.
Moody put his hand on his shoulders and asked him again to receive Christ. The
young man was angry and shaking the evangelist’s hand away from his shoulders he
answered, “Mr Moody, never more speak to me about the salvation of my soul. I
have promised to decide when I return, but not before. Goodbye.” After having
said this, he went away and Moody, who felt that something had broken in his own
heart, sat down, disappointed.
On the same evening, after
Moody had gone to bed, he was waken by a loud knock at the door. He pushed his
head out of the window and saw a woman who had a scarf round her head. “Oh, Mr
Moody,” she cried out with pain in her voice, “come quickly, my husband is sick,
very sick, and I am afraid. Please, come right now.” Moody knew her immediately
as the wife of that young man with whom he had spoke in the same afternoon. “It
won’t help,” he answered. “Your husband gave me a final answer today in the
afternoon. He has gone over the border of death. It is of no good for me to
come”. But because she asked so earnestly, Moody put his clothes on and went
anyway.
When he stepped in, he saw the
young man lying on his back in bed, his eyes open, but obviously he did not know
there were others there. When Moody came closer, he heard how the man repeated
only two words, “Too late, too late.” Moody knelt down beside the bed, took the
hand of the dying man, opened his Bible and started to pray. But the young man
did not pay any attention to that. He only stared at the ceiling and shouted,
“Too late, too late!” Moody did his best to wake him up, but he did not know
Moody, and after a few minutes he passed away, still saying again and again as
before, “Too late, too late.”
My friend, maybe you have not
done an unforgivable sin yet. Maybe it is not too late for you, but I warn you
of a danger to which you will go, if you reject God’s grace continually. Life is
uncertain, Jesus is coming, and the Holy Spirit can stop to wake you. If He
stops, you will not have another opportunity. This can, therefore, be your last
opportunity. Oh, if only you heard the warning and now – before it is too late
for ever, you would receive Jesus Christ! (2)
CALL TO NEW LIFE
As we have noted
before that it is important to answer the call of God and receive salvation, we
should now study how this happens and how you yourself can be saved. The
following issues, for example, are important:
1. Turn to Jesus Christ and give
your life to Him
The first phase in being saved is
of course to turn to Jesus Christ. You can tell Him that you are a sinner who
needs salvation and that you want the plan of God to come true in your life. At
first, there is no need to try to become better, just go to Him as you are with
all of your faults. According to the Bible, there is eternal life only in Jesus
and therefore we must turn to Him so that we can get it:
- (John 5:40) yet you refuse
to come to me to have life.
- (John 6:68,69) Simon Peter
answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal
life.
69. We believe and know that you
are the Holy One of God.”
- (John 10:9) I am the gate;
whoever enters through me will be saved.
2. Receiving
The second issue is simply
receiving. As eternal life can be received as a gift through the Son of God,
Jesus, you must receive Him into your life (in other words you can simply
say, " Lord Jesus, come into my life!). According to the Bible, He already
stands behind the door of our heart and waits for a chance to step into our
lives:
- (Rev 3:20) Here I am! I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will
come in and eat with him, and he with me.
If you have done this, you have
then, according to the Scriptures, taken on God and eternal life. You have this
in spite of how you feel at this moment. Do not base your assurance of salvation
on your feelings that can change, but on the word of God and on Jesus Christ,
just like the anchor of a ship is never thrown inside the ship but always
outside.
- (John 1:12) Yet to all who
received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God-
- (1 John 5:11-13) And this is
the testimony: 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. 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.
PRAYER OF SALVATION:
Lord, Jesus, I turn to You. I
confess that I have sinned against You and have not lived according to Your
will. However, I want to turn away from my sins and follow You with all my
heart. I also believe that my sins have been forgiven through Your atonement and
I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation that You
have given me. Amen.
REFERENCES:
1) OSWALD J. SMITH: Maa johon kaipaan, p. 52
2)
OSWALD J. SMITH: Maa johon kaipaan, p.134
