"Confirned or On Standby?"

Jesus said, "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:26-33 NASB).

Bill Hybels tells a great story that illustrates an important truth. He wrote of his experience waiting in an airport to board a plane:

Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say; will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?

Knowing that you have a “confirmed ticket” is essential to a believer. After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.

The great tragedy is no one needs not to be sure. Jesus has overcome the world. He has defeated death. The root of uncertainty is in where we place our faith. If your faith is in your ability, position, or works you will never have certainty. There will always be room for improvement. To be sure, you must place your faith completely and totally in the One who has already gone before us conquering sin and death forever. You must place your faith in Jesus who has made the final sacrifice for all our sin. Have you done that? You can. Do it right now and confirm your ticket!