Don't Just Hope So

I was invited to participate in a public forum with two other pastors. Besides me, there was a liberal mainline denominational pastor, who made it clear that he did not trust the Bible, and a Catholic priest. It was quite an interesting evening, and I used my time to make the case for using the Bible as our source for understanding the human condition and our relationship with God. My goal was to clearly communicate the Gospel.One question made it easy, “How do you get to heaven?” The pastor from the liberal church wasn’t sure about there being a heaven, but talked about making this life more heavenly. The priest said that it was by keeping the sacraments and “doing your best." The gentlemen who asked the question then asked the priest, “Do you know if you are going to heaven?”I was heartbroken by his response. I knew him. He was a very nice man. He had sacrificed his whole life for the church and his ministry. He took a vow of poverty, gave up getting married and having a family. His whole identity was tied to being a priest and everywhere he went he wore his clerical collar. But when asked if he knew if he was going to heaven, he looked down, hesitated, and quietly said, “I hope so. I hope I’ve done enough.”And I couldn't help but think if this man hasn't done enough, who has? If he could only hope, how much hope could the rest of us have, or anyone who followed his quest for heaven?When the question came to me, I said, “This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11–13 ESV).I continued with something like, “I say this without reservation, not because I have done enough or ever could do enough, but because Jesus did it all, ‘I know that I’m going to heaven.’ The Apostle John said that God wants us to know today, and we know by trusting Jesus alone. The apostle Paul promised in Romans 10:13 that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I know I’m going to heaven because Jesus said he would save me if I asked him to, and I believe him.”Don’t just hope so. He went through too much for that. He wants you to know. And when you know, it changes your whole perspective on everything in life.If you don’t know, make sure. Turn away from your own way of living and turn to God, putting your faith in Jesus for your forgiveness, and for living your life. He promised to save you, and he will!