How to Be Sure in Uncertain Times

A special message from Dr. Charlie Bing, GraceLife Ministries

"It's Hell!" said a healthcare worker overwhelmed by the coronavirus victims in a New York City hospital. And we wonder, can it, will it, get any worse or more chaotic?

Not long ago, it was life as usual. Today, many live in fear and insecurity. Who would have thought this insidious virus would spread so quickly throughout the entire world? Uncertainty about the future is the real pandemic. How are people reacting to this threat? —by hoarding food and of all things, toilet paper! No one wants to be unprepared to meet an uncertain future. We wonder, have we done enough?

But some things are more certain than the spread of the coronavirus. Let me explain.

First, the most pervasive infection people face has been, is, and will be sin. Sin is anything that does not meet God's standard of perfect righteousness.¹ It is not just murder, rape, and theft, but pride, selfishness, unthankfulness, and a host of other attitudes and actions. Because we are all sinners, we are separated from God in this life and in eternity—unless God sends a cure.² Those who reject God's cure choose to spend eternity in a place where God is not present called the lake of fire.³

A second certainty is that God loves every one of us and wants each of us to have a relationship with Him in this life and for eternity. The proof of His love is that He became a man, Jesus Christ (meaning Savior, Chosen One) to live a perfect life among us and then die in our place.⁴ Only Jesus could fulfill the righteousness required by God. Though innocent of sin, He was put to death on a cross of shame to satisfy God's justice by paying the penalty for our sin. He took our place.⁵ When Jesus rose from the dead three days later, it proved that God accepted His sacrifice on our behalf. It also allowed Jesus to promise eternal life to any who believe Him for it.

A third certainty is that anyone who comes to Jesus believing God's offer of eternal life will be given that life as a free gift.⁶ It has to be a free gift because being good or doing good deeds cannot satisfy God's perfect righteousness and justice. And because we can do nothing to earn this gift, we can do nothing to lose it—it's all by His grace (which means a free underserved gift).⁷ God's promise is that He will not turn away from anyone who comes to Him no matter how sinful one is or feels.⁸

Another certainty is that we will all die,⁹ unless we are alive when Jesus returns—an event just as certain.¹⁰ At death or at Jesus' return we will bear the consequences of what we did with God's offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ.¹¹ This future is more certain than contracting the coronavirus. So why not prepare for what we know will happen?

Know that you are a sinner separated from God and you need a Savior. Agree that you cannot save yourself by anything you do. Believe in Jesus Christ as God's Son who died for your sins and rose again to give you the free gift of eternal life. Then thank God for His amazing gift.

Please copy or share this message with those you love. I will be happy to send you a free booklet about the message of God's grace if you contact me at charlie@GraceLife.org and include your mailing address. You can find other resources to help you understand and live your new life at GraceLife.org.

God cares about you. I care about you. Please stay safe, but most of all, be sure. – Charlie Bing

References

1God's Word says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

2"The wages of sin is death . . ." Romans 6:23a. Death here means separation from God's life.

3"And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15

4"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

5"For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

6"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

7"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

8". . . the one who comes to Me [Jesus] I will by no means cast out." John 6:37b

9"And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27

10"He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I [Jesus] am coming quickly.'" Revelation 22:12

11"He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18