This is probably the most important question you will ever ask someone in your lifetime. The Lord draws all men by His Spirit so they will contemplate eternity or question themselves whether or not there is a God in existence. Basically, we can say that God gets our attention at some point by speaking or an action to reveal his eternal presence.
Sometimes, that action is not under the best of circumstances, which causes you to call upon God to deliver you from your existing dilemma. Your eternal security decision rests with you and you alone. Some are totally apathetic and do not care in any way if there is “a God” or not. They want to live their life their way, no matter what.
God only gives each person so many opportunities to come to Him, and no one knows that number. If they continue to refuse the call, then He turns them over to their own reprobate mind. Read about this in the first chapter of Romans in the New Testament.
This dynamic theological question is coming from the book of Acts of the Bible where the Apostle Paul and his cohort Silas are imprisoned. The story line is true, of course, with no deep biblical concepts to understand and sort through. It’s a simple question asked in a dire time of need by a common person, the jailer, with a simple answer given. God was “getting his attention” dramatically in this instance that meant life or death in this extreme chaos presented.
This is the narrative of Paul which is on his Second Missionary Journey that is covered in the book of Acts (16:36-18:22) where he travels to 18 different provinces or regions throughout Asia Minor.
Paul and Barnabas had just had a dispute among themselves concerning John Mark, in leaving to go strengthen the churches there. Therefore, Barnabas ended up taking John Mark with him to Cyprus, and Paul choosing Silas to go with him.
While Paul and Silas were in the Asia region of their journey, they came across a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination. She was fortune-telling for her owners, making money for them in this scam, as we state it in today’s time. Note: God warns us about fortunetellers, spiritual mediums, and the likes in the Old Testament. Don’t get caught up in this demonic business. She was indwelled by a demonic spirit which Paul finally cast out.
When the owners found out about it, they took Paul and Silas to the local magistrates, who had them beaten and cast into prison. Their feet were put into stocks (leg irons) so they couldn’t escape; besides, they had a jailer guarding them.
At midnight, Paul and Silas are praying and singing praises to God, with the other prisoners hearing them. Suddenly, there is a great earthquake, the foundations of the prison shake, and immediately the prison doors are opened. Plus, all the prisoners’ bands were loosed. Then, the keeper or head of the guards wakes up and sees how the prisoners will probably escape. Bad news for the guard; back in those days, if that happened on a guard’s watch, they knew they would be killed. He draws out his sword to kill himself, but Paul cries out to him to stop.
Paul reassures the guard that all of the prisoners are still there. The guard calls for a light and comes in trembling to Paul and Silas, falling down. We don’t know what transpired, if anything, between Paul and the guard before this Divine interaction. He asks them:
Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
The guard knew the circumstances of Paul and Silas, along with their background of who they were. He might have known the story of Jesus and the “Christian Way” that the disciples were sharing. He knew somehow that what happened was done providentially, and God’s Spirit had touched his heart; he recognized Salvation coming to him at that instance. Being overcome with fear or joy, he simply asked them what he needed to do to become “saved.” Paul and Silas might have witnessed to him.
He didn’t need to know or state any impressive theological question about what it takes to become a child of God. In all his humility, he asked a simple question to them. That’s all you need to ask.
They respond in verse 31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” God alone knew about the guard’s family that is mentioned here, and I don’t; so I am not going to cover that.
Salvation is simple. All you have to do is call upon the Lord to save you. Just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and surrender your life to him. The way things are now in these end times, it appears that the Lord’s return is imminent. Don’t put salvation off, because you don’t want to go through the Tribulation period. Believe me.
This is a simple narrative given here in the Holy Scriptures for everyone to see how plain and simple the free gift of Salvation is that secures a person’s eternity in Heaven. How glorious and wonderful that will be one day when we will be with our King. Jesus is Lord, and He is at the right hand of the Father right now waiting to come get us. No one knows the hour or day.
Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man cometh.”
Study each word carefully in both of these two verses. We are so close, it seems, due to the now-present condition we are living in; don’t wait a second. Give yourself over to Jesus even now, right where you are. When Jesus comes, it will be in a millisecond.
I hope this has stirred you to the simplicity of the Gospel of Salvation which you will not pass up.
Blessings and Peace to you,
Clay Smith
Scripture is from the King James Bible.
All emphasis is mine.