A Priceless Legacy

When our time comes to die, the most valuable possession we can leave our family is not money or any earthly goods. No…money cannot buy this priceless treasure. The most valuable inheritance we can leave to our loved ones is an assurance in their hearts of our own eternal destiny. There is not enough money in the whole world that could ease the torment that comes from a questionable testimony of a loved one who has just passed away. These thoughts have come up several times in conversations and church services this past week and have stayed on my mind.

We are not saved by good works…not at all…for the Bible says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5 as well as “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9  There is not enough good that we could do to obtain eternal salvation; it is only what Christ has done for us!

But, after salvation, the Bible says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” II Timothy 2:19

The Bible has MUCH to say about a believer’s walk:

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 5:8 – “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Colossians 1:10 – “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

Colossians 2:6 – “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”

I Thessalonians 2:12 – “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

I Thessalonians 4:1 – “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

I John 1:6,7 – “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

I John 2:6 – “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

There are some that may try to say that how we live does not matter – it is only what is in our heart that matters. Yes, salvation takes place within, where only God can see. But, the evidence of salvation takes place on the outside…where man can see. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.”  Is our family convinced of our salvation? By our life, are they persuaded that our eternal destination is Heaven? James 2:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” We can say with our lips that we are saved, but the truth is, our walk talks louder than our talk. If our lives are not backing up what we are saying, we are putting a big “?” in the minds of our loved ones. The apostle Paul said of Timothy, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”  Could Paul see Timothy’s heart? Of course not. Yet, Paul was persuaded of Timothy’s faith! Again, are our lives convincing our loved ones of our unfeigned…our genuine faith in Christ?

There is a way to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and to know for sure that, when you die, you will go to Heaven with Him.

God loves you and has a plan for your life – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

The Bible says that all men are sinners and our sins have separated us from God. – “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

God made man in His own image. He gave man the ability to choose right from wrong. We choose to sin. Our sins separate us from God.

God’s Word also says that sin must be paid for. – “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Wages means payment. The payment of our sin is death and hell, separation from God forever. If we continue in our sin, we shall die without Christ and be without God forever.

The good news is that Christ paid for our sins. All our sins were laid on Christ on the cross. He paid our sin debt for us. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, and He arose from the dead. He is alive forevermore. – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Do you know you are a sinner? “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Are you genuinely sorry for your sin? Luke 13:3 says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (True repentance produces a new way of living.)

Do you believe that Jesus died for you? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9,10

If you have, from the heart, answered “yes” to the above questions, then pray and receive Christ by faith as your Saviour. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Everlasting life begins when we receive Christ as our Saviour!!

~ Rachel ~