Day 272 - 277 - Deadly Assumptions

I spoke to two young men this week who based their eternal destinies on deadly assumptions. They were deadly because they were wrong, which meant they were still under condemnation and not heading to heaven as they believed they were.

They both thought they were going to heaven. But, when I asked what they based their belief on, they really couldn't say with certainty. In fact, they really didn't know. Both thought they had "received Jesus in their hearts" but weren't really sure how. One said through prayer and trying to live right. That sounded potentially promising but more loving probing had to be done to diagnose the situation as best as a fallible person who lacks omniscience can.

When I asked them if they knew what Jesus said to do in order to know their destinies would be heaven, they admitted that they didn't know. That means they were basing their futures on deadly assumptions.

I told them that Jesus said in Mark 1.15 to repent and believe. I asked them if they believed that Jesus is the Son of God who died in their place to take the punishment they deserve. They both believed that. I then asked them if they had ever repented of their sins. Both said they had never repented. I asked them if they knew what repentance was. Both said no. I explained it to them.

I told them that there are two sides to the repentance coin, but it's still one coin. First, it's crying out to God for forgiveness of all of your sins, past, present, and future. Second, it's realizing your on the broad road that leads to destruction, going your own way, astray, and choosing to turn to the narrow way to follow Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, the Life.

I asked them if they had ever done that, turned from going their own way to following Jesus and asking God to forgive them of all of their sins. They hadn't done that.

I asked them when they were going to do it, warning them that they don't know how much time they have left. They weren't sure when they were going to repent. I urged them to repent before it's too late. I hope they will.