Picture painted by Paula Wallace
Hebrews 11:6b NIV, “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
How do you know if you are going to heaven? How does a person come to believe and receive Jesus Christ? These were the questions that kept racing through my mind after celebrating the news in the fall of 1976, that our daughter, Amy, had no evidence of cancer. I began searching for answers by attending Sunday School and church. I read the Bible occasionally, but I didn’t yet comprehend the full meaning of scripture.
Joy
Amy and I made trips to Selma every sixth week for chemotherapy and every three months to Houston for tests and results for the next two years. She continued to improve and no evidence of cancer. In the spring of 1977, my husband, Joe, and I learned we were expecting a baby. Amy was so excited. It was a positive distraction from the hospital visits. Our baby girl, Julee, was born in the fall of 1977. She was such a joy and Amy made sure all her wants were met.
Ashamed
My head knowledge of Jesus Christ was increasing. Rev. Joe Bates was preaching the word in church. My Sunday School teacher, Kathryn Friday, did an excellent job presenting the Bible. During class one Sunday she asked, “you all know you are going to heaven, don’t you?” I didn’t know, I didn’t have any assurance, but I was too ashamed to admit it, so I sat silently. How does someone find that assurance? One thing I learned was that if you want an accurate answer to a Biblical question, go to someone who is mature in the knowledge of Christ. I asked a couple of friends how do you know and they were unable to answer.
Find Him
In Acts 17, Paul stood in front of some men in Athens. He admitted these men were very religious. They even had an altar with the inscription, “To The Unknown God”. Paul begins to proclaim the God they did not know. In verse 24, Paul tells them “He is Lord of all” and in verse 25, “He gives all life, breath and all things”. He made man “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” Acts 17:27 KJV. All people feel the desire for comfort and peace in our lives. So many turn to money, drugs, alcohol and relationships, to name a few, to satisfy that desire. Only accepting Jesus Christ can bring a satisfaction to the soul.
Roman Road
It was a few more years before I accepted the Lord as my Savior. The scriptures to help answer these questions came from Romans.
First.Recognize. Romans 3:23 NKJV, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Recognize your sin. All of us have sinned, but God loves you regardless of what you have done.
Second.Realize. Romans 5:8 NKJV, “while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
Thirdly, Remember Romans 6:23 NKJV, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Lastly.Repeat .Tell someone. Romans 10:9 NKJV, “if you confess with your mouth Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Seek Him today, ask forgiveness of your sins, confess to Him your belief in Him and invite Him to be Lord of your life.
If you have prayed this prayer and are having doubts, then have faith in the word of God. Believe Him!
My prayer is for each one of you that read this blog:
1. may your relationship with the Lord increase,
2. may you who doubt gain an assurance in Him
3. and those who have not received Christ as their Lord and Savior,
I hope you pray for His saving grace today.
With love in Christ,
Paula Wallace
Selah I’ve Got Jesus How Could I Want More
For Further reading:
https://www.treadingwatertiljesuscomes.com/2018/09/05/identity-theft/
