Charles had been an orphan since he was four years old, so he lived with his grandfather, and Grandpa was good to him. Charles loved books and learning and found that life was full of interesting things to do and to learn.
But at 12 years old, Charles was not a little boy anymore. His thoughts went down deep, and he was full of questions and sometimes full of fear. Thoughts of dying crowded into his young mind, and he really wanted to know the answer to this hard question: “Where will I go when I die?”
Grandpa couldn’t help him, so he tried going to church and asking the people there. But no one could give him a definite answer. No one seemed to know any more than he did. He didn’t want somebody’s guess: It was too important. He wanted to know for sure!
One dark, rainy evening as he was returning home, he felt that he could not bear the uncertainty any longer. Getting home that night did not seem half as important as getting the right answer to his biggest question. He could pass exams at school, but he could not answer the question of whether he would go to heaven or hell when he died.
Charles kneeled down right there on the wet road and prayed, “Lord, I can’t do any more.”
And suddenly, in his misery, the Holy Spirit showed him the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. Finished! The Lord Himself said so!
Why should he be fearful and hope somehow to get to heaven? On the cross after three hours of darkness, Jesus said, “It is finished.”
That settled it for Charles. Jesus had taken the punishment for his sins! His fears were gone, and they never came back. He accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross for the answer to his hard question. Now he knew for sure the door of heaven would be open for him.
Is it really that important? What if you make a mistake and find yourself in hell forever? Instead, you may accept the finished work of Christ for eternal life. And you may do that right now and know the question is settled for you.
ML-03/01/2015