How may we know that we have passed from death into life? Certainly
not with our feelings as a proof, for they change as the sands shift on
the seashore. If our feelings be the foundation, then we may be in the
kingdom and out of it a great many times a day. It is not always to be
determined by a great change in one's life, for men who have not
accepted Christ have had such an experience. There is only one sure
way of knowing it, and that is on the authority of the word of God.
John 5:24, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word,
and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not
come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life." And John
6:47, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath
everlasting life."
It is said that Napoleon while riding in front of his soldiers lost
control of his horse, when a private stepped from the ranks, seized the
horse's bridle and saved the officer's life. Napoleon saluted him and
called him captain. "But, sir," said he, "I am not a captain, only a
private." "Then," said Napoleon, "I will commission you captain." And
immediately he stepped into the company of those officers; they ordered
him to the ranks, but he said, "I am a captain." "By whose authority?"
they said. If then he had replied, "Because I feel like a captain,"
how ridiculous it would have been! Pointing to Napoleon, he said, "I
am a captain, because he said it." Thus with God's word as a
foundation we stand secure.
V
Do not forget to notice that we are told that we must come like little
children. Not like the philosophers of the world, but like little
children who always trust implicitly those who are about them. If we
would be saved, we must be willing to be taught, and we must some time
make a beginning. Then why not now?
Some years ago John B. Gough visited a home in a New England city, and
the heartbroken mother told him that her boy, who was an inebriate, was
confined in an upper room in the house, which was much like a cell.
The great temperance leader went to speak to him and said "Edward, why
don't you pray?" and he said, "Because I don't believe in prayer."
"But," said Mr. Gough, "You must believe in God." And he replied, "I
do not believe in anything." "I am sure you are wrong in this," said
he, "for I know that you believe in your mother." Then there came a
new look into his face when he said, "Yes, I believe in her." "Well,"
said Mr. Gough, "you must then believe in love. Let us fall upon our
knees and pray." And the young man began, "O love," and the spirit of
God said unto him, "God is love," and he changed his prayer and said "O
God," and then came the same spirit and said, "God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten son," and he said "O Christ," and when
he said this the deed was done. He immediately rose from his knees,
and he has been free ever since.