Saved for Sure
Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
Each one appears before God in Zion.
As we wrap up the Valley of Tears series, it is so appropriate to end with the incredible promise that “each one appears before God in Zion”. No matter how hard the journey, the Lord promises every one of His children will arrive Home. No matter the dangers, no matter how close we come to dying spiritually, the Lord will keep us safe. We will not “die” but step from this earth into heaven where we will live eternally. How many times have you heard, “Well, I hope I’m good enough when I stand at the Pearly Gates. I’ve tried to be a good person. Hopefully, my goodwill outweighs my bad.” Perhaps deep in your heart, you are afraid the Lord will reject you because you messed up or you will have sinned just before you died and didn’t have a chance to repent.
I understand feeling such fear. Though I was a “good church girl”, totally immersed in church life, I lived my teen years fearful I wasn’t really God’s child. I had asked Jesus into my heart as a child and then just in case it didn’t “take”, asked Him again and again. My lack of assurance of salvation impacted many decisions I made and they weren’t good. Finally, a staff member of Crusade for Christ (now Cru) showed me 1 John 5:13:
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
She asked, “God says if you believe in Jesus, you can KNOW you have eternal life. You say you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and save you, what is keeping you from trusting He did what He promised?”
I suddenly realized that to doubt God’s action, that He forgave me and claimed for His own, was calling Him a liar. By faith, I needed to trust His Word and let go of the need for a dramatic emotional before and after story.
Since that moment so many years ago, I have gained great comfort from numerous Scriptures that promise the Lord will never let me go. If you are struggling with assurance of your salvation, rather than try to convince you with my words, allow God’s Word to move your heart toward trusting Him with your soul, just as it did for me. Hear the Word of the Lord.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 KJV
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 KJV
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies….For what shall separate us….
Romans 8:31-39 KJV
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NASB
so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:18-20 NASB
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB
Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 97:10 NASB
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25 NASB
And if this is not enough, hear the Words of Jesus:
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
John 6:39 NIV
…I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
John 10:28-29 NASB
If you are still not sure you are a child of God, please contact me and give me the privilege of sharing the Gospel with you, just as a young woman shared it with me so many years ago. May my story be a puddle of grace for you as you travel toward Heaven.
Tomorrow we begin our summer What She Said series. Our first guest writer is Patsy Kuipers. Patsy returns to Daily Treasure and writes through the grid of loss and joy. Please share Daily Treasure with friends who will be encouraged by the messages designed to help turn our hearts toward Jesus.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Saturday, 30 December 2023.
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