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Aug 01, 2024 18:00pm

What Now?: Assurance

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The following comes from the devotional book “What Now?” by Ashley Akers. To learn more, go to www.whatnowdevo.com.

Assurance

When I was younger, around age 8, I went to a revival service at a local church. As the preacher ended the message, he invited anybody who would like to be “saved” to come to the front. Naturally, I went to the front. I didn’t exactly understand, but everybody else was going and I didn’t want to be left out. So, I repeated the words of the prayer he suggested, got baptized, and went on with my life as a “faithful church member”.

Fast forward to age 21 when I had a serious medical emergency and could have died. Facing the reality of death really scared me and continued to weigh heavily on my mind. God began dealing with me and I felt uneasy in my heart. Six months later, I was at church and my pastor offered this helpful advice: “If you are not sure if you are saved, ask God to convict you of your need for salvation or to give you peace if you are already saved.” I knew in those moments that God gave him that message specifically for me. Over the next five days I prayed that prayer and God’s conviction was very strong. On Friday night, I prayed – sincerely – asking Jesus into my heart. In that moment, I had a peace that nothing else had ever given me and I knew that if I were to die I would go to heaven. I was “saved” and had assurance in that moment! Furthermore, because of that decision made in a moment of genuine surrender, nothing has nor ever will be able to separate me from God and His love.

Romans 8:35-39 gives me this proof: “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

By trusting in Jesus Christ, you can have assurance, too. Assurance is a confidence, a guarantee and a freedom from doubt. Assurance will chase away fear and the bondage that comes with it. Jesus wants to turn your fear into a peace that only He can give. He loves you. There is no fear or trouble or person or thing that will ever separate you from His love.

Reflection Questions

Use your Bible or Bible app and read John 10:28. Who can snatch you away from Jesus?
Re-read Romans 8:35-39 above. What cannot separate you from God’s love?
What are you fearful of?