Dear reader, are you a Christian? If so, do you have the assurance of eternal life? Does CHRIST manifest Himself presently in your life? If not, seek for the real faith founded only on the Word of God.
It is therefore necessary for you to know if your faith is the true one or not, for, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9).
Abraham Believed God
The Lord said to Abraham: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee” (Genesis 12:1–4). It is convenient to mention that Abraham did not know beforehand the Promised Land. By faith, he obeyed God: “So Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken unto him.”
The Lord once again said to Abraham: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thy lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:1–19). Again, Abraham obeyed without any resistance. He knew that God always does good things to him, for a just man obtains the favors of the Lord. Abraham knew the faithfulness of God.
Apostle Paul confirms that: “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3–25). He was fully convinced that what GOD promises, He accomplishes. That is why he is the father of all those who walk in the same track of his faith.
Faith and Obedience
Dear reader, let us altogether agree that the true Christian is the one who firmly believes in the Word of God without any restriction. He has full faith in it since “faith cometh from hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). He obeys it because “obedience is better than sacrifices” (1 Samuel 15:22).
This implies that you can consider yourself to be a Christian, and obey without fault all the dogmas of your religion, but if you do not obey the Word of God, your faith is vain. In fact, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). And Jesus says: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
New Life in Christ
However, you are unable to do it by your personal efforts. Without Jesus, you can do nothing (John 15:5). It is necessary therefore that you be born again so as to give Christ access into your life. He will transform your entire being if you accept Him as your personal Savior.
Therefore, acknowledge that you are a sinner. The Bible declares that “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Confess to Him all the sins you have committed: evil thoughts, theft, lies, adultery, murder, pride, jealousy, hatred, idolatry, drunkenness, etc., with a firm decision to forsake all these evil actions. You will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13). CHRIST will then come to your help for your conversion. Accept the same baptism JESUS did.
You will become a new creature. You will then know that you have the true faith through the accomplishment of the promises of God in your life. The Lord JESUS CHRIST made this promise to all those who will believe in Him: “In my name, they shall cast out demons, they shall speak in new tongues, they shall pick up serpents. If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:17–18).
The Holy Spirit and the Life of Faith
Thus, when a man is converted, CHRIST baptizes him with the Holy Spirit whose initial sign is the distinct speaking in new tongues that were not previously learnt (Acts 2:7–15). So this Spirit, which is the seal unto the day of redemption, gives him assurance of eternal life (Ephesians 1:13–14).
We see Apostle Peter who, filled with the Holy Spirit and by faith in the name of JESUS, healed the lame man who was carried and laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful (Acts 3:1–16). That is again one of the manifestations of the faith that saves. Now, Peter was a man subject to similar passions as we are.
Consequently, if you abandon all evil life, and follow the Lord like Peter, you will experience divine healing on yourself and others, because JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Trusting God Fully
Dear reader, at times you have been afraid at night, in your sleep. You have been haunted by evil spirits, looked into the future with despair, or have been afraid of the dark infernal actions of the wicked ones. If you believe, CHRIST will make you dwell in safety, and His angels will encamp round about you to deliver you from any danger (Psalms 4:8 and 34:7). Your enemies will be His enemies, and your adversaries His (Exodus 23:22).
This establishes the difference between the true Christian who entirely abandons himself to God and obeys all things that come from Him, and a fake Christian who pretends to trust in God also, but helps himself by consulting witches, wizards, sorcerers and other soothsayers for his protection.
Come to Jesus Christ
It is by ignorance that you have often condemned the accomplishment of these promises in the life of children of GOD. Now if these works do not manifest in you in this present life, or during your stay here on earth, how can you believe that JESUS will save you on the last day?
JESUS wants to save you. Accept His love and He will watch over you. You have often asked GOD precious things without any answer; it is because of your disobedience. Sometimes, your own conscience has rebuked you of many wrong deeds. How much more GOD, who is greater than your heart? (1 John 3:20). This Word is certain: if you keep His commandments and do what pleases Him, whatsoever you ask Him, you will receive it from Him.
Why would you rebel against such a tender and mild voice of your Savior? Harden not your heart. Do not put off your salvation for tomorrow (Hebrews 3:7–8). Instead, come to JESUS CHRIST as you are, and you will benefit from His grace and blessings.
JESUS is speaking to you as to Martha: “If you believe, you will see the Glory of GOD” (John 11:40). Deny yourself. If you steal, steal no more. Speak the truth to your neighbor; keep your body pure; put hypocrisy away from you; do not corrupt the spirit of your fellowmen by filthy lucre. GOD will then receive you into His Kingdom.