CONFIDENT…
There is a confidence in taking the helm – and a hand that is steadied by a seasoned captain peering over your shoulder.
I remember the conversation as if it were yesterday. It took place years ago – below deck – in the galley of a sixty foot sail boat, anchored in the clear, calm, blue waters off Andros Island. Twenty youth pastors from all over the country (and many different denominations) had come together to explore the possibilities of taking students on mission trips in the Bahamas while living and traveling on The Sundancer.
Being a Southern Baptist (one of only two on the ship) I knew that the casual conversation among the crew would eventually turn to two subjects – Eternal Security of the Believer and Method of Baptism. I did not look forward to the theological debates that might arise from these subjects. And the because of the fact that these are not major doctrines – I did not want to see these issues needlessly divide us. After all twenty people on sixty feet of deck is pretty close quarters for a week.
But the subject came up. About six to eight of us were seated around the table in the galley and one of the ladies brought up the subject. “So, you believe, “Once saved – always saved – right?” After a lengthy discussion about my personal relationship with Christ, my personal conversion experience of surrendering to His will to follow Him for the rest of my life and numerous scriptures that indicate that a true believer is securely held in the hand of Jesus once they truly make a decision to follow Him. She looked puzzled and commented, “I wish I could be as certain as you are about what I believe – about eternity.”
I was floored – totally taken back. Here was a woman – a youth minister – who was leading and teaching students about faith in Jesus Christ – when she wasn’t sure herself! Faith in Christ is NOT blind faith – but believing faith! Faith that is certain! Faith that believes the things that have been written, prophesied, and seen fulfilled – things that have been foretold and have come to pass – things that you can have confidence in because the One who said it – has proven Himself to be true.
True Christianity need not (even in this politically correct society) make apology for the certainty of belief. We do not merely “think” – we know – we have confidence. It is this kind of faith that carries Christians all around the world as they are tortured and martyred.
John, the youngest of Jesus disciples once wrote: “The one who believes in the Son of God has this witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” (I John 5:10-13)
We can have confidence – we do not have to think – or hope that the things of God’s word are true – we can KNOW – we can be confident! After all – we have a well seasoned captain peering over our shoulder.
