Certainty!

Certainty!

“I wish I had it!” you may have exclaimed when glancing at the front page of this tract. If you did you are not alone, for millions long for certainty and the confidence it brings. A full year has elapsed since the Corona Virus crisis burst upon our world and since then life has been seriously disrupted for millions. Many despair as they look ahead and wonder what the future holds for them when the pandemic is over. 

Dark feelings of doubt and despair may be only too real for you. You may have had your vaccination, or expect to have it soon, yet much uncertainty remains. Spring has come with all its promise and Easter is near, but you are afraid to hope. The Bible relates the story of two downcast people walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). Itmay well have been a husband and his wife who that evening walked the 7 or 8 miles from the city to their village home and “talked together of all these thingswhich had happened”. Along the way a stranger drew near and went with them, and asked them about the subject of their conversation.

It all related to the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, and the two who had begun the journey were so perplexed. They had trusted that Jesus of Nazareth would have redeemed Israel. Now their hopes seemed to have been dashed, and they were disappointed.

Their sadness was evident to the stranger, and He began to explain it all to them. For though they did not recognise Him, it was Jesus risen from the dead who was saying to them, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to have entered into His glory?”

Sooner than expected they arrived home, and the stranger accepted their invitation to “abide with us”. While they ate a simple meal “their eyes were opened and they knew Him”. All the dark feelings of doubt and despair were dispelled by the joy of knowing that He was risen from the dead. Everything was changed, and quickly they arose and hurried back to Jerusalem to share their joy with other disciples. Their new found joy had a firm foundation. It rested upon the certainty that Christ had been raised from the dead and they were sure of it for they had seen Him themselves.

Luke who wrote a second book named ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ began by recording this about Jesus and His apostles, “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the thingspertaining to the kingdom of God”. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15. 1-8 about Christ’s resurrection, and gave the names of many who had seen Him alive, including finally himself. Indeed the resurrection is a well attested fact. It is a certainty!

You might think “Well all that may be so, but does it matter to me?” or “How can that help solve my problems?” The Gospel does not offer to Christians an escape from their diffculties in life. What is promised, to all who believe, is remission (i.e. forgiveness) of sins (Acts 10:43) and that is your greatest need.

Do you, in the midst of all your doubts and despair, long for the certainty that your sins are forgiven and that you are made right with God? Then let this verse guide you. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom. 10: 9). Yes, there will always be uncertainties in this life, but you can grasp, by simple trusting faith, one glorious certainty, the reality in your life of a living Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

JHB