He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

John 3:36

This statement in today's text stresses once more the tremendous significance of faith. Two vastly differing worlds open up before us: eternal life or eternal condemnation. And everything depends on whether the testimony of the Son of God has been believed or not.

The text states first: "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life." Here it is a question of saving faith, the true conviction that it is worth entrusting myself to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for my destiny in eternity. He came into the world to save sinners. God gave Him, so that all who believe in Him should not perish but receive eternal life. Only one condition needs fulfilling: I must acknowledge that I need saving. As a sinner I deserve God's wrath, the verdict of the righteous Judge. That makes it clear how badly I need salvation!

The second part of the verse starts: "He who does not believe the Son." Not believing means rejecting God's call to be converted. It is not a matter of being unsure, or not entirely convinced of the issue, as so often happens. Whoever does not believe the Son of God will not enter eternal life; God's wrath will remain on him. God accepts no excuse for not believing.

We need to believe in this life. Afterwards it is too late. Christ accomplished the work of redemption by suffering and dying on the cross of Calvary. Shouldn't we believe Him? Whoever does so is eternally secure and can gratefully say, "The chastisement of our peace was upon him" (Isaiah 53:5).

Good Seed Calendar, May 13/06