Day 21.

The doctrine of grace, discussed yesterday, in turn leads us to the doctrine of assurance or “peace with God.” The apostle Paul time after time used words like “we know” “We are sure” “We are confident” Paul finished his life just before his execution in Rome by saying “I know whom I have believed and am confident that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day.” (1Tim:1:12.) The word “know” is a key word in the Apostle John’s first letter. Appearing 44 times in 5 chapters. There is an ebullient satisfaction in knowing that you have eternal life. To have this peace is to acquire a steady calmness that will carry you through the storms and buffetings of life. For the storms will come. Life does beat us black and blue some times. We do get pummeled with tragedy and loss. The eternal traveler is not promised calm seas, but he is promised a safe arrival.

When you know that your life is in the hands of your lawyer who is our representative in the courtroom of heaven, then your life can be at peace. It will also be full and over flowing with joy, because you know that you do not have to strive to earn your salvation. The good news is not “do” but “done”. What we cannot do or achieve God has done for us in the person of His Son and Representative. Our price has been paid, the penalty for sin has been met, and we have the right to heaven, not within ourselves but within our substitute. What a joy it is to know that the outcome of the spiritual race is already assured and that all we have to do is get on the track and run it. With the race begun the journey’s end is assured.

The tragedy of our age, and of those before us, is that in our pursuit of happiness, as an escape from meaninglessness, we abandon the only one who can save us from our dilemma. We leave Him out.

It was 2:00am one morning when the phone rang at the home of a well-known surgeon. The doctor was told that a young man lay near death from a car accident and that the patient was in a small hospital 20 kms away. The surgeon was the only one within calling distance that could possibly save the man’s life.

The surgeon hurriedly dressed and drove in hast towards the nearby town. He stopped at some traffic lights and at that moment someone opened the car door, pulled a gun and ordered him to drive on. All his efforts to explain the urgency of the situation were fruitless. Before they reached the edge of town, the gunman ordered the Doctor to stop and get out. He tried to explain, but helplessly he watched as the man in gray trousers, a brown coat and a cap pulled over his head, drove away in his car.

By the time the doctor reached the hospital he was told that it was too late. One of the nurses said, “The boys father is here and is very upset and needs comforting, will you speak to him?” The doctor walked into the waiting room and found the sobbing father. He was wearing a brown coat, gray trousers and by his side was the cap.

This is a true parable of life. We often force out of our lives the very one that could help us. Everything we do occupies our time so that we don’t have time for God.