I Know . . . !
I Know . . . !A Very
Short Story
. . . with Long Lasting Implications
AUNT MAY has always been the generous one of the family. Her gifts around
the holidays exhibit that rare combination of delightfulness and practicality.
Sweetness abounds throughout her character; always cheery, never
complains, and one of the best cooks I know. Once a week she drops by to check on
me, always offering to help any way she can. Oh, and there's something else I
should mention: she's very informed, always up to date on what's happening. In
fact, there isn't a thing she doesn't already know: a talent that nearly drove me up
the wall one day . . ."Aunt May?" I said, changing the subject from the plights of Indonesia. "Have
you had a chance to read the little pamphlet I gave you last week?"
"Oh, yes Dear, of course."
"Well? Did you find it interesting?"
"Why, yes," she reached across the table, gently placing her hand upon mine.
"Your mother and I taught you those things as a child. Don't you remember?"
I paused. "Are we talking about the same thing?"
"You meant the religious brochure, right?"
"That's the one. Did you know Jesus said all those things?"
She nodded her head and smiled.
"Even His teachings about Hell?" I said.
Her eyes lit up. "Oh, that reminds me, did I tell you what happened to your
cousin Ned?"
"No. What happened?"
"Well, he took the boys to an amusement park. Those boys are so big now. Oh
dear, I was going to bring their pictures and I forgot. Henry says I've been forgetful
lately so I mentioned it to my doctor while I was having my corns treated. In fact,
here, I'll show you." She bent over to take off a shoe.
"Aunt May, please! What does this have to do with the teachings of Christ?"
"Oh yes, the boys wanted to go on every ride. You know how boys are. And there
was this one whose name included the ‘H’ word in it. What are people thinking these
days? Why, when you uncle and I were young . . ."
"Aunt May, can we talk about what you read?"
"But what is there to talk about? I already knew those things. Anyway, the boys
insisted on riding that horrendous contraption and . . ."
I sat there, amazed; here was her eternity-bound soul at stake and she thought
an amusement park ride was more important.
". . . And that's when your uncle got mad at the barbecue . . . Are you all right,
Dear?"
"Excuse me, Aunt May. I was thinking about the ramifications of missing Heaven
when one dies."
"Oh, I know what you mean. It's terrible. Look at all the evil people in the world."
"But it's not just the people we consider evil, the Bible says: ‘For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;’ (Rom. 3:23)."
"I know," she said.
"That means everyone. Even you and me."
"I know."
"No matter how good you think you are, the Bible says: ‘As it is written, There is
none righteous, no, not one:’ (Rom. 3:10)."
She kept nodding her head.
"It also says: ‘For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and
sinneth not.’ (Eccl. 7:20) We're all sinners before God!"
"I know what you mean."
"And therefore, Aunt May, ‘the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom. 6:23) That's why Christ died in
our place. He paid for our sins because we can't pay for them ourselves, no matter
how good we think we are . . ."
"I know."
". . . We can't save ourselves. We can't earn our way to Heaven, ‘Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,’
(Titus 3:5). You must repent and trust Christ as your only Saviour. Jesus said, ‘I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John
14:6) Jesus also warned, ‘I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins:
for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.’ (John 8:24)"
I stopped to catch my breath, hoping it would sink in.
"You're absolutely right, Dear. So tell me, how much are they paying you at this
new job?"
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
"Yes, Dear. And I've already said that I know all about it. You don't have to tell
me."
"But I want to make sure you truly understand. Jesus warned that, ‘He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the
word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.’ (John 12:48)
You're going to meet Him in judgment if you don't repent."
"Repent of what, Dear?" She gave me a sympathetic smile.
"Of refusing to do what the Bible says, for one thing."
"But Honey, I've already told you, twice, I know all these things."
"But you're not taking them to heart! It's not real to you . . . !"
"Really, Dear, we seem to be going in circles. Your father had a habit of doing
that. In fact, I remember once as a child, he carried on about this toy truck he
wanted. Of course, back then, we didn't have the money to buy it. Our parents did
the best they could with what they had. Why, I remember they scraped and saved to
take us to the circus. During the show one of the elephants escaped . . ."
I let out a silent prayer. I needed wisdom - fast!
". . . And that elephant ripped the door right off cousin Chester's car. Why, he
couldn't go to work for a week. And it was a good job too . . ."
I kept praying. And somewhere between Chester losing his job and the elephant
getting shot in the head, God answered it. I reached over for my Bible lying on the
table, and began flipping through the pages.
". . . Excuse me, Dear, but . . . what are you doing?"
"I'm turning to the verse I mentioned, the one about all having sinned. You know
where it's at . . . don't you?"
She gave me a blank look.
"In fact, show me your favorite verse."
I slid the Bible toward her. She stared at it for a moment, then looked at her
watch. "Oh my, look at the time . . ."
"Wait, Aunt May, let me show you one of my favorites." I turned to 1 John 2:4:
‘He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him.’
"Really, Dear, I must go! I just remembered I left a chicken in the oven."
"A what?"
She stood up, ready to leave. I walked with her to the door and gave her a big
hug. "Come visit again, okay? Same time, next week."
She nodded on her way out, then slowly turned to face me. "I'll try to read that
pamphlet again . . . slower this time."
IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven? The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps
you from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated
between you and your God," Isa. 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For
all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God;" Rom. 3:23.
And Jesus, referring to sinners, said that He:
"shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,
and them which do iniquity [sinners];
And shall cast them into
a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth." Mat. 13:41-42SECONDLY, you must realize that there is
NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn
Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast." Eph. 2:8-9 Baptism, good deeds,
church membership, self-righteousness are all
examples of good works that cannot save you,
because: "Not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he [Christ] saved
us," Titus 3:5.THE ONLY WAY you can get saved
is through Jesus Christ. He said: "I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me."
(John 14:6) THAT'S WHY: "...while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us."
(Rom. 5:8-9) THEREFORE: You must REPENT
(change your mind); admit that you are a Hell
deserving sinner and can't save yourself. And
call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.
"if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine
heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9SEND THE LIGHT
P.O. Box 815
Fargo, ND 58107
[Christian Helps Ministry (USA)] [Christian Home Bible Course]