Do You Have the Son?

           I believe the Bible from cover to cover. In other words, if the Bible says something, then I believe what it says. I have heard a discussion where a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. While speaking to an unbeliever, makes a statement that goes: “If you are right and I am wrong, then I have lost nothing. If, however, I am right and you are wrong, you have lost everything.” The non believer is willing to bet his or her soul that the believer is wrong in his or her belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easy for us to accept the fact that John 3;16 is correct in that God sent His only begotten son to this earth to die for our sins that we might have eternal life. Christ, later on in John 14:6 makes a clear statement that He is the only way to the Father. If that be so, then that rules out any other and all other ways to heaven. In September 1957, I left home to go to Indiana University to study music. It became more of a pilgrimage for me rather than a time of music study as I was searching for some meaning to life. Every week would find me in some different church and by that, I mean, some different denomination. Who was it that that had the answer for that which I was seeking? I found myself in the U. S. Navy by June 1958, still searching for peace in my life. A fellow instructor opened the door of my small studio and quoted the following passage from the Bible. First John 5:11-12 says, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

          He finished the verses, closed the door and left. There was no explanation given for his opening the door, saying the passage and leaving without another word. There was no dramatic change at that point. That would come in about thirteen years later. The truth and frankness of the passage stripped away all philosophies and arguments and claims by spiritual people. The answer would lie in one simple statement. The Apostle John made it clear in this small letter by stating, “...He that hath the Son hath life;...” It would be years later that other lessons would be learned about this epistle such as the sixteen different tests to see if you are a believer or not. John's purpose for the epistle can be seen in verse 13 of today's passage where it says, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” A person, then, can know about their future destiny and it will hinge on only one thing. If you have the Son, you have life. If you do not have the Son, you do not have life. Perhaps God has seemingly oversimplified it, but it seems to be clear enough that anyone can understand it. For the believer, there is no one more important than the Lord Jesus Christ. The lives of the believers revolve entirely around Christ in all that they do and think. No one is more important. Many people do not even want to think about it and just try to go on getting as much happiness as they can any way that they can. It will all be short lived as our time on this earth is short when compared to eternity. James describes it as nothing more than a vapor. The final question is, “Do you have the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Praise God today that He has given us His Word. Believe what it says.