____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 20, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Blessed Assurance by Connie W. Adams The Christian enjoys a certainty and confidence which the unsaved does not know. He knows who he is, why he is here and what awaits in the world to come. He lives with blessed assurance and he dies with it. That assurance is not to be equated with smugness nor over-confidence. The hope of the resurrection is founded on the evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead, giving us a pledge, or guarantee, that we shall also be raised. Paul said, ``Because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead'' (Acts 17:31). There will be a resurrection and a judgment day. How do we know that? It is assured by the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead. The Hebrew writer said, ``Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen'' (Heb. 11:1, NASB). It is that which stands under and gives support. Serving the Lord is not just a stab in the dark. It is rooted in evidence. Assurance marked the preaching of Paul at Thessalonica. His message was not halting and uncertain so as to generate doubt. ``For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake'' (1 Thess. 1:5). True gospel preaching has a certain, confident ring to it borne of absolute confidence in the truth of what is said. Paul said, ``We also believe, and therefore speak'' (2 Cor. 4:13). That kind of preaching produces certain conviction in the hearers. At Thessalonica the people ``received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in you that believe'' (1 Thess. 2:13). To the Colossians, Paul wrote of the ``riches of the full assurance of understanding'' and said that should enable them to walk ``rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith'' (Col. 2:2,7). How can a Christian have such confidence? He understands the will of God touching his life. ``The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God'' (Rom. 8:16, NKJV). The Holy Spirit revealed the word of truth which instructs us as to what it takes to have our sins forgiven. When we understand that and act upon it, then our spirit is in agreement with the Holy Spirit. We have the Lord's word for it and rejoice in the promise. That is why we have ``the full assurance of hope unto the end'' (Heb. 6:11). It is this hope which empowers us to endure whatever fortunes life presents us knowing that there is a far more exceeding weight of glory awaiting us in the world to come. We are able to look beyond the temporal things which we see physically to the world of eternal realities. It is this confidence that prompts us to ``draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith'' and ``hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful that promised'' (Heb. 11:22,23). This assurance describes the character of the faith which binds us to the Lord and causes us to trust his promises. The practical implications of these grand truths are many. Consider a few. In the family circle, children become rebellious and break our hearts. Infidelity tears families apart. Children are pawns in the struggle for custody. Reason gives way to anger and frustration. Stability succumbs to insecurity. Peace of mind eludes us. The Lord did not promise that life would always be easy. What he did promise is that he will take care of us and provide us a shelter from the storm. ``So that I may boldly say `The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man shall do unto me''' (Heb. 13:6). ``Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you'' (1 Pet. 5:7). ``The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want'' (Psa. 23:1). ``My grace is sufficient for thee'' (2 Cor. 12:9). It is when we realize our own helplessness that we are ready to take hold of the greatest source of strength of all. ``For when I am weak, then am I strong'' (2 Cor. 12:10). Indeed, man's extremity is God's opportunity. One of the saddest paradoxes of all is to see people in times of great trial turn away from the only real source of help there is. Yes, there are Christians who suffer. But they have a conviction to sustain them through it all. They may not know why, but with Job they can say, ``Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him'' (Job 13:15). What amazing assurance! There are some sicknesses that do not mend. Sometimes the righteous are taken from life in dreadful accidents. Sometimes they are the victims of violence and tyranny. But you see, the Christian does not live for this world alone. He is fully assured that there is a better place and that whatever happens to him here is but a temporary interlude. That is why he joins his voice with other Christians to sing ``Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine,'' or ``Heaven Holds All To Me,'' or ``Think of the Home Over There'' or ``This World is Not My Home.'' It really does not matter, in the final analysis, whether you are rich or poor, sick or well, bond or free; all that characterizes this life is temporary. Assurance in Death ``It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment'' (Heb. 9;27). I have not yet met that appointment. But I shall in due time. Death has invaded the lives of friends and brethren and I have wept with them as they buried their dead. When their dead were not faithful to the Lord, there was an extra sadness which could not be assuaged. When the dead had served the Lord and died in hope, there has been a calmness, a serenity, an assurance which the unbelieving world does not understand. It is one thing to comfort others when death has intruded into their lives and homes. It is brought home to you with full force when you have buried a father, mother, child, husband or wife. I have stood beside the bed of saints when they breathed their last and have shared the anguish of their loved ones who were helpless to prevent it. I have also watched as a beloved wife took her last breath. I cannot, even several years later, describe the mixture of emptiness, helplessness, and loneliness which that moment brought. It was a humbling experience for me for I had done all I knew to do to prevent it. It was not enough. It was also a humbling experience for the Doctor who stood by and realized that all his skills and knowledge could not call back the life that was gone. For a moment I thought, ``What will I do? How can I go on?'' But then, the reality of responsibilities set in. Decisions had to be made. My children had to be called. Other relatives must be notified. The funeral home had to be called. My broken-hearted mother-in-law who had just lost her only child, had to be comforted. What an understatement to say that family, brethren and neighbors comforted us. Such times bring out the very best in people. But that was not really what sustained me. The assurance of hope was the real anchor through it all. I was able to go boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need. And help is what he gave me. From all I was able to know, Bobbie was faithful to the Lord and died in hope. I knew what the Bible taught about death and the life to come. Some things are not revealed, but enough is revealed to comfort and sustain us and to whet our appetites for that blessed home of the soul. Bobbie died at 1 P.M. on Sunday, March 31, 1985. We were then members of the Expressway congregation in Louisville and regular services were set for 6 that night. I got ready and went to service as always. Frankly, I wondered if I could handle my emotions at such a time. But it was wonderfully comforting to be with those who shared the same hope. The singing, prayers, preaching of the gospel and words of encouragement from those present gave me strength for the difficulties of the next few days. Blessed assurance sustained me at the funeral service as Christians sang and prayed together and as we all listened to the remarks made by Weldon E. Warnock and Dee Bowman. The coldness and starkness of the cemetery was relieved by the hope of the resurrection. Conclusion Frankly, I do not know how unbelievers, without such blessed assurance, cope with such moments. One of the kindest things you can do for your loved ones (to say nothing of the needs of your own soul) is to obey the gospel and live accordingly. You cannot imagine the anguish of spirit you will leave behind for your loved ones should you be plunged into eternity unprepared to meet the Lord. When the moment comes for me, as it will also for you, to change worlds, I hope to face it with calm assurance because of the promises of the gospel. ``Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord'' (1 Cor. 15:57-58). Ah, blessed assurance! ___________________________________________ Sentence Sermons Where death finds you, there eternity will keep you. Thoughts are the seeds of future deeds. If you think you have no faults, that makes one more. ___________________________________________ "What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31,32). "And we know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God...." (Romans 8:28). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________