Word for Word 9/30/26

If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would have eternal life? If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He asks you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you tell Him?
These are good questions for us to think about. What would you say? How would you answer?  We all want to be able to say we are certain of eternal life, but most have a harder time with the second question, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” People might answer by saying something like this:  “I’ve tried to live a good life. I’ve prayed. I’ve helped my neighbor. I think God would let me in.” Others say, “I know I am not perfect, but I’ve lived a better life compared to most” or “I’ve made mistakes, but I have also tried to give back. I hope God sees that.” 

These reasons might be well intended, but they will not be sufficient when we stand before the holy God of heaven and earth. Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Even if we try our best, it won’t be enough if we’ve made just one mistake. “In fact, whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10).

So, what hope do we have? How can we be certain of eternal life? The answer is not found in what we have done, but in what was done by another. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). How can you be certain of eternal life? Why should God let you into heaven? Jesus. Only Jesus. Our confidence is in Him who did live a perfect life and who willingly went to the cross to suffer the punishment for our sins. Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and rose again on the third day assuring us of our salvation. Because Jesus lives, so shall we.

God saves us by grace alone. Scripture says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). We didn’t deserve it or earn it, but God gladly gives us. But what is grace? A helpful acronym for grace is: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. God gives us the riches of heaven, eternal life, because of what Jesus did for you. This is a tremendous comfort! God doesn’t save you because you have done everything right or always said and thought the right things. If God saved you because of the things you had done, that would be terrifying - because we have sinned and we could never do enough. Thankfully, our salvation depends on Jesus. He did all things well. “It is finished.” He perfectly loved God and His neighbor. He sacrificed His life for all people and He promises eternal life to all those who believe in Him.

Can you be certain of eternal life? Yes, because of Jesus, you can. Amen!

Pastor Abraham Faugstad
King of Grace Lutheran Church ELS, Waukon and Trinity Lutheran Church