Articles
Assurance in a World of Doubt
Polls, surveys, and news reports all point to the reality that human beings living today appear to be more stressed, anxious, and depressed more than at any other time in history — at least as far back as when someone started asking such questions. Recent events have also added to the stress levels and uncertainty, which only added to the stress and anxiety some were already feeling. Some have expressed doubts about doing business now with this country simply because of the ongoing uncertainty, with some stating they are unwilling to act because of the uncertainty; they are not choosing one path or the other simply because they don’t know that the ‘best’ choice now will still be the ‘best’ choice in the near future.
On the other hand, there are people who shrug their shoulders at this world of uncertainty and doubt, comforted and assured that their goals will one day be attained, regardless of what happens. Wouldn’t you like to have such confidence and assurance? Wouldn’t it be nice to wake up every day, knowing that politics, social trends, and the fickleness of man can do nothing to lessen the assurance and confidence you have in your greatest goal? Well, good news! You can have that confidence!
This is not fairy tales and wishful thinking, nor is it induced by alcohol, drugs, or any other mind-altering substance that would cause us to confuse fantasy with reality. This is what we call ‘the real deal.’ This is as real as it gets, in fact. You, and anyone who chooses this path, can have full confidence in this goal being achieved, but not because some man came up with the ‘foolproof’ scheme to make millions or billions of dollars; it is not due to a secret bank account in Switzerland or the Cayman Islands; it is not anything material at all.
If you haven’t guessed by now, I speak of the promise and hope of eternal life in heaven. But before you turn away, consider why this is a choice of assurance and certainty, especially compared with any earthly goals you may have. Let us consider why this path is one of assurance for those of us who live in a world of doubt and uncertainty. If it is true peace of mind and confidence you seek, and you wonder if the path in life you choose is the right one, consider this first:
God Promised It. When Paul introduced himself in the letter to Titus, he described himself as one who lived “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:1, 2). So, God promised eternal life; why should we believe Him? Because, as Paul also wrote, God “cannot lie.” The writer of the book of Hebrews likewise wrote, “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18). He cannot lie. It is impossible for Him to lie. I don’t believe there is any other characteristic that would give more assurance and confidence than that!
If you know nothing of God, that might seem simply too hard to believe, but that is likely because we tend to see God in terms of what we know of men — and men most certainly lie. The fact is, long ago, when someone thought God might be persuaded to ‘change His mind,’ or simply didn’t mean what He said, a prophet answered, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19). In other words, God is not going to go back on what He has said would happen; He keeps His word — every time.
The Bible is full of stories of God foretelling events that unfailingly happened just as He said they would. The Israelites saw firsthand that of all those things God had promised, “Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Josh. 21:45). Even when they went into captivity because of their own unfaithfulness to God, some recognized, “He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us…As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us” (Dan. 9:12, 13), and, “The Lord has done what He purposed; He has fulfilled His word which He commanded in days of old” (Lam. 2:17). For good or for bad, God did everything He said He would do. There is simply no legitimate reason to not believe what He said.
If You Choose God, He Will Never Abandon You. One of the most confidence-inspiring things He has told us is this simple statement: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). It is so assuring the writer would then add, “we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:6). With the Creator of all things making such a promise, what could possibly cause us to fear or worry? With the all-powerful and all-knowing God with us, there is truly no cause for fear, doubt, or worry.
Whether You Choose God or Not, He Loves You. Our God is so merciful and so desirous of our salvation from eternal punishment that He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Despite what some may think — that God is just waiting anxiously to toss us into the eternal fire just so He can watch us suffer — the truth is, He “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). He does not want us to go to an eternal hell, which was “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41), and not for man. He does not want any to perish because He loves us.
And that love is also not like man, in that it does not ebb and flow with moods or even because of what we do. The clear statement from God is assuring beyond belief: “neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38, 39).
Nothing can separate us from God’s love, and that was made evident in the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). It is in that story we saw the Prodigal Son [the one who sins and leaves God] leave and go live in a world where he faced the consequences of his poor choices, and only when “he came to himself” did he realize how good he had it when he lived with his father. When he returned, the father was waiting for him, and “when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Friend, if there is anything we should learn from that story it is that even when we leave God for the ungodliness and sin of the world, He still wants us back and He still loves us while we are in that state, and should we decide to return, Hse will welcome us back gladly and celebrate the return. In the two stories prior to this one, Jesus spoke of something being once lost but then found, and then made the point: “I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). No, God may not like what we do, but that doesn’t change the fact He still loves us. Just as parents never quit loving their children, so God will never quit loving us.
Friend, there is nothing and no one more assuring than God; there is no more certain promise than that of God; there is nothing more comforting than God’s promises.
Is life overwhelming and stressful? Seek the peace of mind only God can give. His word is certain. — Steven Harper
