Philosopher and theologian Alister McGrath writes in his book, “Doubt”: “Deep within all of us lies a longing for absolute security, to be able to know with absolute certainty” (23).
I would add that most people want to be known with absolute certainty as well. Is all of this possible? In studying what secularism, atheism, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism has to offer, none of these can even come close to the God of the Bible for absolute security, to know with absolute certainty and to be known by Him with absolute certainty.
One thing I love about the Bible is that it never holds back; it tells us right up front that nothing else in life satisfies like a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, but that in order to have that relationship, one must absolutely surrender his or her life to Jesus. No other religion dares to call for this or promise such fulfillment.
For example, the Bible tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), but of the 99 names in the Koran, not one refers to Allah as “love” and its teachings demonstrate this god to be quite inconsistent. Yet Scripture tells us of a God who is intimate, perfect in faithfulness and who has an unconditional love toward us (agape) and who even has a friendship love for us (phileo).
Moreover, the Bible tells us that in this life, due to the fallen nature that we live in, we can c0ntinually go deeper in our knowledge and experience of God but that full appreciation of Him will only be experienced in heaven — which is but a mere breath away. Everyone dies; not everyone really lives.
Only the Bible can give us the incredible detail of heaven that it does — and give us the certain perspective that our lives are ultimately not the segmented lives we think they are.
Just as there are certainties in this life — for example, mathematical certainties — there are spiritual and eternal certainties. But mathematical certainties cannot give one the ultimate meaning of life. However, Jesus tells us that the ultimate meaning in life is relationship with Him (John 17:3).
He offers perfect forgiveness; perfect mercy; perfect justice; perfect understanding and perfect fulfillment. If you do not have a relationship with God today but you would like to, all you have to do is pray a prayer like the one I will offer. If you truly mean it in your heart and you tell God you now belong to Him, He will hear your prayer and change your life.
Once you pray this prayer, please reply back to me and wherever you live, I will do my best to find an excellent church for you to be involved in, so that you can grow in this new relationship you’ll have with God through Jesus Christ.
Please pray this prayer with me: “Dear Lord Jesus, I have not lived my life for You. I confess that I am a sinner, in need of Your forgiveness, which You have already offered me when You died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. Take my life, use it for Your glory. Reveal Youself, Your ways and Your nature to me. Place me in the best church possible so that I can grow with You now, in Your name I pray, amen.”
