“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
— 1 John 5:13
One summer when Melissa was ten years old, she’d prayed and asked for forgiveness during Bible school. Later, her sixth-grade teacher challenged her faith. He claimed that if God loved everyone equally, then everyone was a child of God and would go to heaven. Melissa knew he was wrong, but she couldn’t put the reason into words. But that night, when digging into her Bible for answers, she found a familiar verse: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12 NKJV, emphasis added).
Her uncle said that all the world’s religions were the same, that they were just different ways to get to heaven. Again, Melissa went back to God’s Word for answers. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ ” (John 14:6). Melissa nodded. The Bible was clear. Salvation can be found only through Jesus.
For Melissa, that finally settled it. God said it — and she believed it.
More to Explore: Romans 8:16
Girl Talk: Do you know why you believe what you believe?
God Talk: “Lord, I want to know your Word better. Thank you that we can be sure we have eternal life. Amen.”
From Chick Chat by Kristi Holl