No
ResolveA Very
Short Story
. . . with Long Lasting Implications
TODD CLOSED his Bible and stared at Frank. "Frank, you want to get
saved?"
Frank nodded.
"You've seen what the Bible says," Todd continued. "You understand
how to get saved?"
Frank nodded again then said, "I gotta call upon Christ to save me."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a hell-bound sinner, and I can't save myself."
"Right," Todd said, leaning forward in his chair. "And why is Christ the
only means of salvation?"
Frank sighed. "He died for my sins. Death is the only payment for sin
God will accept."
"Good. Now, what--"
"Look," Frank said, "I already know what I have to do."
"I want to make sure you understand that you must repent--"
"Yes, yes! I know all that! Let's do it."
Todd sat back. Something wasn't quite right. He opened his Bible again.
"Maybe we should read another verse."
"NO! I've seen enough. I understand. I wanna get saved!"
"All right," Todd said, hesitating for a moment. "Let's kneel down and
ask God to save you. I'll lead you in prayer. Is that okay?"
"Sure," Frank quickly got down on his knees and placed his elbows on his
chair. Todd slowly did the same and looked at Frank one more time before
bowing his head.
"Okay, Frank, repeat after me: God, I come before you now, a hell-bound
sinner."
"God, I come before you now, a hell-bound sinner."
"I know my good deeds can't save me."
"I know my good deeds can't save me."
"Therefore I repent . . ."
"Therefore I repent . . ."
". . . forsake my self-will, and humbly submit to you as LORD of my life."
Todd sensed Frank hesitate before repeating it, then continued.
". . . And thus, I resolve not to drink beer, ever again."
This time, Frank didn't respond. Todd raised his head. "What's wrong?"
"What'd you say that for?" Frank said.
Todd shrugged. "What difference does it make? You want to repent, don't you?"
"Yeah . . . but . . . is it necessary to go that far?"
"Sure, I'll show you." Todd reached for his Bible.
"That's okay! I believe you."
"You want more time to think about it?"
"No . . . There's nothing to think about . . . It's not as if I'm an alcoholic . . . Let's
go on."
"Okay." Todd bowed his head again. "Keep repeating after me. God, since you
don't want me to, "set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (Psa. 101:3), I have
resolved not to watch any movies that--"
"NOW WAIT-A-MINUTE!"
Todd opened his eyes. "What's wrong now?"
"This is ridiculous! Why would I have to do that?"
"‘Cause God says so. If He tells you to do something, what is there to argue
about? You just do it. Maybe you're not ready to get saved after all--"
"Look! I think you're making this too complicated."
"Then why did Jesus say, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingom of heaven; but he the doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven" (Mat. 7:21)? You don't want to leave here calling Jesus Lord
and find out when it's too late that you weren't truly saved . . . do you?"
"Well . . . no . . . but--"
"Then if you wanna get saved bad enough, you'll be willing to do whatever Christ
commands. Sure beats eternity in Hell, doesn't it?"
Frank glanced down at the floor, shaking his head from side to side. "ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT! . . . You got a point . . . I've seen enough movies, anyway. Go on!"
"You sure?"
"GO ON!"
Todd bowed his head again. "Keep repeating . . . God, since you say that, ‘if a
man have long hair, it is a shame unto him’ (1 Cor. 11:14), I will cut my long
hair as soon as--"
"ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT!" Frank scrambled off his knees. "You're nuts. I'm finding
someone else to lead me to Christ!"
"You said you were ready to repent. Don't you want to change your mind and
follow God's ways from now on?" Todd said. "What do you think repentance means,
anyways?"
"Then how come some guy on T.V. said all you have to do is believe?"
"That guy didn't die for your sins. Jesus did, and He said, "The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (Mark
1:15) In fact, He even warned that, ‘except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.’ (Luke 13:3) You can't just believe without truly repenting."
"Then why didn't that guy say so? Why don't most preachers say so?"
"Look, all I know is that God, ‘commandeth all men every where to repent:’
(Acts 17:30). And as far as "most preachers" are concerned, I don't know which
Jesus they're preaching because the real Jesus told His disciples, ‘that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,’
(Luke 24:47). And remember, ‘except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish[--]’"
"Yes, yes! You used that verse already!" Frank said, rolling his eyes.
Todd paused, thought for a moment, then got back on his feet and stood before
Frank. "I hope you get it straight one day; come back when you do," Todd said,
extending a handshake.
"You mean that's it? You're not going to lead me to Christ?"
"You're not even ready to believe on Christ, much less repent."
"Are you crazy? I said I'm willing to believe--"
"But you're not willing to repent," Todd said, "and you can't do one without the
other."
"What are you talking about?"
"How can you say you believe your sin is taking you to Hell, when you're not
willing to forsake it. That's no better than the alcoholic who claims the booze is
killing him and yet makes no effort to stop drinking."
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT," Frank fired back. "As long as I believe that Christ
died for my sins that's all that counts!"
"In that case," Todd continued, "how can you truly believe that Christ died for
your sins, and then not resolve to forsake the sins that caused His death in the first
place. You see Frank, if you truly believed everything we've talked about, you'd be
experiencing some godly sorrow for having offended a holy God with your sin and
causing Him to sacrifice His only begotten Son. The Bible says: ‘For godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation’ (2 Cor. 7:10). If there's no repentance there
can be no salvation. Remember, ‘except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish[--]’"
"YOU SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD!" Frank said, bolting out of the room.
Todd slowly sat down in his chair and shook his head. The whole thing reminded
him of what Jesus said: "No man having put his hand to the plough [plow], and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
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]