Johnny knocked on the door of Pastor Kenny’s office. “Come on in,” responded the pastor. He knew who it was before the door opened. Johnny had called him the day before and said he wanted to sit down with him because he had some “spiritual questions” he was wrestling with.
“How have you been, Buddy?” Pastor asked as he stood up, giving Johnny a big hug.
“Well…that’s a great question,” Johnny said, sheepishly. I guess I’ve been struggling a bit lately, if I’m being honest.” Johnny never wasted any time. He got straight to the point, as he and Pastor Kenny took their seats on opposite sides of the desk.
“Tell me what’s going on, John.” Kenny said, looking concerned.
“So, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my relationship with God, lately.”
“Well, that’s wonderful to hear!” said Pastor Kenny; smiling enthusiastically.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Johnny replied. “But the question I’ve really been struggling with is, ‘how does a person know if they are truly saved?’”
The pastor’s demeanor quickly changed from a warm smile to a look of concern. “Johnny, are you asking me this question because you’re questioning whether you are truly saved?”
Johnny hesitated for a moment, then answered. “Yeah… I guess I am.”
The look of concern quickly shifted to a subtle smile on the pastor’s face. “Johnny, I have known you for many years. Heck, I’m the one who baptized you when you were seven years old! Remember?”
Johnny nodded in agreement.
“John, let me ask you something. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He died for your sins?” Pastor asked in light, almost condescending tone.
“Yes.” …Johnny replied.
“Have you asked Him to come into your heart and forgive you of your sins?” the pastor asked – again, with eyebrows slightly raised as if he already knew the answer.
“Yeah, but…” Johnny paused for a split second, as he tried to find the right words.
But before he could get his thoughts out, the pastor interjected emphatically… “Johnny! If you believe those things and you have asked Jesus into your heart, then you are saved, Son! This is an attack from the devil. The devil is trying to get you to doubt your salvation. That’s what he does. I have seen this a thousand times. He’s always trying to get believers to doubt their salvation. Don’t let him do it!”
Although Johnny still had unanswered questions, he let out a sigh of relief as he heard those reassuring words from his pastor. He quietly thought to himself, I must have been misinterpreting those Bible passages I’ve been reading.
After all, he had known Pastor Kenny since he was a kid, and had always looked up to him as a father in the faith. Johnny was just a “normal Christian.” He hadn’t studied the Bible for years like Pastor Kenny had.
Johnny thanked his pastor for taking the time to meet with him and answer his questions. They enjoyed some small talk, and then Johnny left.
Dear friend…conversations like the one above are taking place every single day, and I am convinced it is sending more souls to hell than quite possibly any other conversation of our age.
Every day, men are opening up the Word of God and reading the stories of Jesus and saying to themselves, “Maybe I’m missing something here. Maybe this isn’t as simple as that prayer I recited when I was seven years old. Maybe I am not truly saved!” As they read, the Holy Spirit pleads with their hearts and their minds to examine themselves before it’s too late. These men find themselves troubled in their soul – as they should – and maybe they even reach out to a friend or pastor whom they trust, seeking counsel. Yet they walk away headed straight for the gates of hell, with a confident smile on their face; rebuking the devil all the way there. And the enemy walks right alongside them, laughing, as he revels in the fact that men actually fell for this trick.
There is no doubt that the enemy wants genuine believers to question their salvation – of course he does! But of much greater importance to him, is giving false assurance of salvation to men who do not have it. Once a man is saved… Satan has lost him for good. But the man who is not a believer, but thinks he is…this one he will have for all of eternity.
Let us consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians… “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (2 Cor.13:5)
Have we understood the words of Jesus Himself? He said that MANY will show up on that day saying “Lord, Lord”… believing they are in relationship with Him, only to hear those devastating words. “Away from Me, I never knew you!” (Mathew 7:23) Yet we miss the entire reason He spoke these words in the first place! Isn’t He urging us to examine ourselves now…before that day…while there is still time? Shouldn’t we ponder the fact that the deceived never actually believe they were deceived, and thereby ask ourselves…could I be deceived? Didn’t He tell the story so that men would agonize and wrestle with these words as they examine what it means to truly believe, and if their faith has produced genuine fruit?
Friends, I believe so!
Every unbeliever will suffer greatly on that day as they stand before the Judge. But I am convinced that the shock for those who thought they were saved, only to find out they had been deceived, will be a moment of horror far worse than any other.
There is no man on this earth qualified to give another man assurance of his faith. The very thought of this causes me to tremble within myself. When a man does that, he has stood in the place of God and made himself Judge. He has proven he does not understand the Scriptures. He will undoubtedly lead many men to hell, and he will be judged for these actions.
My friend, self-examination and the conviction of the Holy Spirit are precious and beautiful works. They are the tools of the Holy Spirit that lead men into eternal life. They are the tools by which He leads His children to greater levels of repentance and conformity to His nature. And they are, in fact, the tools by which He gives us one of the most precious gifts of all on this side of heaven…the assurance of our faith!
If this post raised questions in your heart and mind, read my post on what it means to believe…
