Some Questions Worth Asking

SOME QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING

I John 5:1-13 “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son.”

A basic need for security is a part of the human condition. Men spend lifetimes planning and preparing to purchase a place and position of real security at the end of their days. It is commonly understood that a sense of security is one of a woman’s strongest emotional needs. Yet the temporal nature of life outside Christ, makes material security a mere momentary illusion, at best. In the words of James, “Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” (James 4:14-15)

There was once a brilliant young man, a non-Christian, who visited his family doctor, a Christian, the day before his graduation from High School. Being a long time friend of the family, the doctor asked him, “What do you plan to do now that you are graduating?” The young man enthusiastically replied, “I hope to study medicine and become a doctor like you.” “What will you do then?” His doctor friend asked. “I will marry and have a family,” the young man responded. “What then?” The Christian doctor asked again. “I plan to have a good practice, earn good money, save and prepare for an early retirement.” “What then?” The doctor persisted. “I hope to travel with my wife and see the world,” The young man said. “What then?” The doctor said. The young man thoughtfully replied, “I guess I will grow old and die.” The doctor quietly and compassionately looked the young man in the eye and said, “What then?” Then beginning with, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27); he led the young man to Christ, preparing him not only for life, but for eternity.

The need for security is not only one of man’s very basic needs, but eternal security is a primary spiritual need as well. One of the great needs of young Christians, as well as some who are older in the faith, is to know God in all His love and to know the Lord Jesus Christ and feel secure in Him. In His role as the Great and Good Shepherd, our Savior focuses upon this need by emphasizing the real security His sheep have in Him. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)

The great scientist, Sir Michael Farady was asked upon his death bed by a reporter, “What is your speculation about the hereafter, Sir Michael?” Sir Michael reportedly replied, “I have no speculation sir, but ‘ . . for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.’ “ (II Tim. 1:12b) You see, this great man was a simple Christian who believed he was eternally secure in Christ Jesus. It is said that a chaplain of dubious spiritual foundation once visited an old saint of God who was terminally ill in the hospital. He asked the man his religious persuasion. The man replied, “I am of Paul’s persuasion!” He then quoted Paul’s statement to young Timothy on the matter.