Entrusted with the Gospel

If you have ever wondered about or doubted your salvation, you’re not alone. I have a hunch that most true believers have walked through these doubts at one time or another. There is a real enemy who lies to Christians and wants them to live in uncertainty. As for me, when I have walked through times of doubt, the promises of God have been greater help to me than anything else, like this one…

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 6:37 (ESV)

Here is the promise: if you come to Jesus, he will not cast you out. That’s a glorious promise, and if you are doubting your salvation, it may be just the key to unlock the door of Doubting Castle.

You’ve heard of Doubting Castle? It’s the place that Christian, the hero of John Bunyan’s novel, Pilgrim’s Progress, found himself in one day, together with his friend Hopeful…

“…on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.

Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out in passionate speech: “What a fool,” quoth he, “am I, thus to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty. I have a Key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any Lock in Doubting Castle.”

Then said Hopeful, “That’s good news; good Brother pluck it out of thy bosom and try.”

A key in Christian’s bosom, called Promise, opens any lock in Doubting Castle. Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the Dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the Key) gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out.

Then he went to the outward door that leads into the Castle-yard, and with his Key opened that door also. After he went to the iron Gate, for that must be opened too, but that Lock went damnable hard, yet the Key did open it. Then they thrust open the Gate to make their escape with speed; but that Gate as it opened made such a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to pursue his Prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his Fits took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King’s High-way again, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.

John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress

For Tuesday, October 13th: John 7