How can you be sure of what you really believe? Where does your security lie? Some trust in horses and chariots, the Bible says. Some trust in uncertain riches. Some trust in princes and kings. Some may trust in their intelligence. You see, I was a Bible teacher on a college campus and seminary for twenty-one years and so I know some of the routes that students take. Some trust in their intelligence.
All of these pass with time. But how can we be sure what we trust in will really endure, endure for the times beyond this life? Jesus’ conversation with the people in John 10:22-30 reveals where TRUE SECURITY lies.
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
Here in these Bible verses, my friend, are set forth the DIRECTIVES to attain true security. I’m asking you, “Where have you placed your trust?”
The first Directive:
Make a Direct Investigation.
Here is a time and place. We are told that it was the feast of dedication. The Jews still observe that feast, the dedication of the temple 165 years before Christ, or before the common era. It was that time and the place was in the temple, Solomon’s porch. They came to that particular time and place and raised a question with Jesus. They asked, “Who are you? Why don’t you tell us who you are? How long do you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
That word, Christ, is a very important word. It is the English word for the Greek word Christos, which is a translation of the Hebrew word Meshiach, the Messiah. Tell us if you are, in fact, the Messiah. Why do you keep us wondering?
I invite you to make a direct investigation of the record. Jesus said He had told them who He was and He told them He was the Messiah. But still they wanted some additional confirmation. So I am suggesting that you do what they did. You make a direct investigation.
The second Directive:
Be Prepared for a Decisive Evaluation.
Then Jesus said, “I told you and you did not believe. The works that I am doing in my Father’s Name, they bear witness of me.” Now, what did He do? The Bible records thirty-seven miracles of mercy that Jesus performed. Thirty-seven miracles of mercy are recorded in the Gospel records, like healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out the demons, etc. Now, they should bear some testimony as to whom Jesus is, shouldn’t they? Of course.
Besides that, He was teaching the truth. One time the people sent the temple guards to take Jesus and they came back without Him. The people asked, “Why didn’t you bring Him?” And they said, “Well, nobody talks like this man talks.”
You see, He taught the truth. So you must be prepared for a decisive evaluation. And Jesus made it very clear that belief is a certain step. It’s a step of certainty. He said, “You did not believe because you are not of my sheep.”
I tell you. Jesus made a decisive evaluation of these people that were listening to Him. But I’m asking you, “Where do you stand now? What would Jesus say about you? Would He also say about you that you are not a true sheep?”
When you ask, when you make a direct investigation, you must be prepared for the decisive evaluation. Are you a believer?
There is a third Directive:
Receive the Definite Declaration.
Again Jesus refers to the sheep and the shepherd. He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” There is that intimacy and satisfying relationship. Jesus went on to say, “I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
Think of the security there can be in faith in Jesus. That is where it is, belief in Jesus. That is where security actually comes from. He goes on to say that they are also secure in the Father’s hand because, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
You see the oneness between these two: the Father and the Son? He said, “Nobody is able to pluck them out of my hand…nobody is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
Once you believe in Jesus Christ as the true Shepherd and the Son of God, then you experience true security. That is the result. So long as your faith remains secure, He will hold you fast. You can be sure of that. You must receive this, however, as a very significant and definite declaration.
You see how true security deals not with the material, but with the heart and its peace. That is only possible in Jesus. So make your investigation. I implore you, I invite you to make a decisive and direct investigation. Study the case and see who Jesus is. But be prepared for His evaluation because He said if you do not believe in Him then you are not a true sheep. And receive His declaration. Once you really believe in Him and know Him as the true Shepherd and become a true sheep, He holds you fast.