Do You?

              As I read John 11:21-26 quoted below, I consider the statement Martha made to Jesus:  (John 11:21) “ …Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”  

                  How many times do we as believers pose this question to Jesus?  The inevitable problem is generally, had we been with Jesus, maybe the problem would have never existed.  It seems you and I have the problem of not including Jesus in our “real” lives, just our “religious” lives.

              However, what was Martha saying?  We know Lazarus was a believer.  He died to give Jesus a sign that He is what He said He is.  The question that Jesus poses is the question in which a lot of folks struggle.  “Am I a true believer, am I saved?”  The only person on earth that can answer that question is you.

              The problem you may have is a lack of knowledge concerning Jesus.  God tells in His written Word that if we Believe, salvation and eternal Life with Jesus and His Father is ours in heaven.

(John 3:16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

              Here Jesus tells us that regardless of who, or what you are, you can be saved simply by believing.  The next obvious question would be, “what am I to believe?”   Paul gives us insight to that answer.

(Romans 10:9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

              Paul tells us two things we need to do.  The first is that we “shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,” We need to “confess” in our heart that we are sincere in our belief, then confess Jesus to others.  “What are we to confess?”  That we believe in our heart (sincerely) that God has raised Jesus from the grave.  

(Hebrews 10:22)  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

              This is a simple but powerful belief.  However, you must state this with a true (sincere) heart with the faith that God is true and not a liar.  If you believe as we have discussed, then God’s Salvation is given to you through God.  “…thou shalt be saved.”   

              So my question to you is, “Do You?  

Bro John R. E Chastain

(John 11:21-26 KJB)  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.  22  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee23  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.  24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.  25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?