Neville Turley

This is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)

All Christians have one thing in common.  At some time they have heard of Jesus and believed.

Through Jesus, God has given us eternal life.  It is God’s own gift to us.  We have his assurance that we will live forever.  It is an awesome revelation.

How does one respond to that?

Reactions vary from individual to individual.  Through the Holy Spirit some people are led to share God’s testimony to a wide audience, others do so on a one to one basis.

Blaise Pascall (1623-1662) was, among other things, a renowned mathematician, physicist and inventor of the first digital calculator the “Blaise Pascaline”.

He set out what he believed on paper.  Following his death the now well-worn paper was found sewn in the lining of his suit.  That paper had become his constant reminder, secreted in the lining of one suit after another as he replaced them.

This is what he wrote:

God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob.

Certitude.  Joy.  Peace.

God of Jesus Christ

My God and your God

Your God will be my God

Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God

He is only to be found by the ways taught in the Gospel.

Righteous Father the world has not known you, but I have known you.

Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy

This is eternal life, that they know you, the one true God, and the one that you sent, Jesus Christ.

Complete submission to Jesus Christ

Eternally in joy for a day’s exercise on the earth

May I never forget your words.  AMEN

Pascall’s constant reminder of God’s testimony that he had eternal life, gave him the assurance he sought for his soul.

Praise God, we too have that blessed assurance.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father.  Grant that we who have been given eternal life may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.  One God now and forever.  Amen