We know from scripture that anyone can come to Christ for eternal life (Romans 10:13- Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved), and the Gospel is indeed free, in that anybody from any position in life, in any place, any circumstances, may come to the Savior and miraculously move from death into life.

This is HIS wonderful work, and we can thank Him eternally for it. From the moment He apprehends us from the world though, there will be changes- wonderful changes, to be sure- make no mistake about it- things will not continue as before. Once we become His, we're His in absolute reality, and we're His forever. That is instantaneous, but the working out of all of this will continue throughout the earthly life of the believer. That's how much our Lord loves us- the change from death to life is a most serious one, and we should take it as an unmatched honor to be His child. He knows all who truly belong to Him, and He knows who doesn't- whatever the outward appearances may be.

John 6:64-66 says, "'There are some of you that believe not'. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. And He said, 'therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of My Father. From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."

He simply stated the truth to those who were not genuine, and they took off in a heartbeat. They were not really His at all. Oh, they hung out with Him and the twelve disciples and no doubt acted the part, but when Jesus simply brought them the truth, they were gone, just like that!

The next verse says, "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, 'Will ye also go away?'" He knew that they would not, but He desired- and got- Peter's response, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter's life was a changed one, as were the lives of the rest of Jesus' genuine disciples.....

Dear reader, where do YOU stand with regards to the Savior and eternal life? Are you indeed His child, or are you merely a curious bystander? You may have noticed that it is easy to talk the talk and 'blend in' with Christians, and some believers may be fooled, but be assured that Jesus- the very Son of the Living God-is aware of who is truly His, and who is not. A genuine believer will pay whatever the cost- loss of friends, mental, emotional and physical abuse, ridicule, all manner of persecution, up to and including death- to be completely Christ's.

Do you belong to Him? It is as easy as believing that He died to take away your sins- not just some, but all of them- and that He rose from the dead to give you life- eternal life- and by faith, receiving Him s the Lord and Savior of your life. I've heard it said that that there is one thing in the world that only YOU, and none other, can willingly give to God, and that is YOUR life. No one else can do it. I pray that as God's Spirit draws you to Him, you'll respond by receiving Him, and moving from death to eternal life. He awaits your response to His incredible love!

God bless you,
Pastor Jim Ewing