Can we be sure
we'll spend eternity in heaven? Many people say you can't be sure. Are
they right? Does spending eternity in Heaven or Hell have to remain uncertain
until it's too late?
Queen Victoria wanted to be
sure. After attending a service in St. Paul's Cathedral, she asked her Chaplain,
"Can one be absolutely sure in this life of eternal safety?" Be he didn't know
any way to be certain.
The Court News
published the remarks and John Townsend, an unassuming evangelist, saw them.
After reading Queen Victoria's question and the answer she had received,
Townsend began to think and pray about answering her himself. Then he sent the
following note to the Queen:
To her gracious Majesty,
our beloved Queen Victoria, from one of her most humble subjects:
With trembling hands, but
heartfelt love, and because I know that we can be absolutely sure now of our
eternal life in the Home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most
Gracious Majesty to read the following passages of Scripture: John 3:16; Romans
10:9,10?
These passages prove that
there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for those
who believe and accept His finished work.
I sign myself, your
servant for Jesus' sake, John Townsend.
John Townsend told
others about his letter to the Queen. Many prayers from many hearts went up to
God. In about two weeks he received a modest-looking envelope containing the
following letter:
To John Townsend: Your
letter of recent date I received and in reply would state that I have carefully
and prayerfully read the portions of Scripture referred to. I believe in the
finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God's grace to meet you in that
Home of which He said, "I go to prepare a place for you."
(Signed) Victoria Guelph
The way of salvation
is the same for a queen or a common citizen. The Bible verses John Townsend
recommended to the Queen were:
"For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"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)
These verses and many
other in the Word of God show us that anyone who, by faith, received Jesus
Christ as Saviour has eternal life immediately. The Apostle John tells us that
his Gospel was written, "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." (John
20:31)
Those who believe have
eternal salvation. Jesus Himself said: "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." (John
5:24)
Can a Christian ever
lose his salvation? "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of My hand." (John 10:27,28)
