It is probably a sure assumption that most people like having some assurances about the choices they make. When we face big decisions, there are times when we linger longer in deciding because of a lack of assurances about the outcome. As Christians, we have access to heavenly and secure assurances about this life and the life to come.
There are several ways in which we have access to this assurance. It starts with faith. “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). Faith is an essential part of assurance. We “must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). This is the only way to start the path of full assurance.
Another access to heavenly assurances is through hope. “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end… this hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast” (Heb. 6:11,19). Hope is essential to our assurances. It is not an empty hope. God has proven to be faithful in what Has promised (Heb. 10:23).
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him” (1 John 3:18-19). A life lived in active love and truth will “assure” your heart. Be active with your love toward the brethren and to your neighbor (Luke 10:27). Your life will be assured before the Father.
Paul struggled in prayer and emotion for the saints, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself” (Col. 2:2). He wanted them to have the “wealth” that comes from assurance. In this case, he mentions access to this assurance through understanding. Knowledge of the gospel or “mystery” of Christ was “hidden from the past ages and generations” (Col. 1:26). It is the redeeming message of Christ. We can have assurance through our knowledge of the gospel message. We may take for granted what is so readily available to us. The divine message that in ages past holy people of God desired to know what God was doing and going to do with mankind. We have that laid out and revealed to us through the Bible. It is designed to be an assurance to us that God will complete what He says. The righteous will be eternally blessed by a relationship with Him. The wicked will not prosper in heavenly places. They have no inheritance and are doomed to destruction. We can be assured of those things. Are you sure of your relationship with God? You can be.