John 3:14-15 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

The very next verse is the most famous in the whole Bible, which causes a lot of people, I think, to overlook these two, I’ve heard them referenced a number of times in messages over the years, but I’m not sure I’ve preached on them myself. It struck me just now that this is an extremely simple description of eternal salvation. We tend to put all sorts of conditions on it, and I’m concerned that we exclude people from the Kingdom, in our minds at least, in ways that our Lord might not do so. The thing about the bronze snake that Moses lifted up on a pole was that the only requirement was that people look at it in faith. We aren’t to make light of repentance and commitment by any means, but the key to me seems to be directed faith. I have read reports of Near Death Experiences in which the person found themselves in hell, but cried out, “Jesus!” and were indeed given another chance. The problem is the many who don’t know to make that cry, and worse, the many who know but still won’t cry out to Him. That’s not to say that people shouldn’t commit to Jesus as Lord as early as they possibly can. Life with the assurance of salvation and life without it are entirely different propositions. As others have commented, I’m sure that when we get to heaven we will be shocked, both at who is there and who isn’t. Going through the motions and saying platitudes aren’t the same thing as saving faith, but saving faith can be as simple as looking the right direction at the right time. We aren’t to go around designating who is saved and who isn’t. Rather, we are to make the Gospel as clear as possible to as many as possible, so that they may make the choice to believe.

This is very close to home for me. I can think of several people who left this life without a formal profession of faith, yet I have hope that in that moment of passing they cried out to the Jesus they had heard about from me. I can’t say that I will see them in heaven, but I likewise can’t be sure I won’t. When we shared our highlights of the past year at the watchnight service on the 31^st, I had to say that mine was seeing and hearing the response of a 99-year-old lady shortly before Christmas when I prayed that Christ would be born in her heart. We’ve seen her once since, and the joy and peace are still there. I have assurance that she will indeed be one of those around the Throne! There are so many to whom we have ministered over the years, some of them still here and some not. I will not know until I get there myself how many will join me, but I feel sure the number will be far greater than what the devil has been telling me over the years.

Father, thank You for this encouraging Word. Help me never take salvation lightly, either for myself or for anyone else, but rather remember that Christ alone is the Savior, and share the knowledge of Him with as many as possible, for You to save them by the work of Your Spirit, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!