If You Were Asked . . .

What if someone asked you this question – “If you died today, are you ready to meet the Lord?” What would your answer be?

A response like, “I hope so”, or “I think so” are the wrong answers for the true Christian because according to God's inerrant and infallible PROMISE, there is no ‘hope so” or, “I think so.” It is as St Paul proclaimed: “For as many as are the promises of God, in [Christ] they are yes.” (2 Corinthians 1:20a)

And do not let the lie that such confidence is presumption – let not that lie dissuade you from being bold about your confidence in God's promises. It is NOT presumptuous for the true Christian to immediately respond, “Yes, absolutely, yes. I am ready to meet my Lord this instant.”

How do you think St. John would have responded to that question? Well, how about this: “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. 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.” (1 John 5:12-13)

Or St Paul: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved . . . For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:10,12-13)

Or St Peter: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Or again, Paul: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
And what does the Lord Jesus say about it all? Well, how about: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes [i.e. obeys/trusts] Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24)

I do not need to go on, do I? I could cite dozens of texts in context with the rest of the New Testament AND the Old to demonstrate the promise – the VOW – of God for all baptized men and women who, to the best of their human frailties, live for Christ in daily confession and repentance.

It is the enemy of our soul – Satan – who wants true Christians to wonder if they will go to heaven when they die. He WANTS you and me to cower in the corner, never sure of our salvation because if WE are not sure of our salvation, then how can we convince others that they can be sure?

So, reader, I ask you: “If you died today, are you ready to meet the Lord?”

Please, be bold to trust God's word.