It seems to me the hardest test questions are always those that ask me to fill in the blank.  With a true or false question I can guess at the answer and perhaps get it correct, but if filling in the blank is required, there’s no guessing. Either I know the correct answer or I don’t.

Life is like that too. From the date of our birth until the date of our death, we’re allowed to live our life—“fill in the blank,” however we wish.  What we put in the blank is very important and it’s not wise to guess at the answer.  The wrong answer has serious consequences.

With the appearing of that second date on our tombstone—the day of our death, there will be no time left to “cram for finals.”  However, we need not worry if we fill in our blank with the correct answer as found in the Bible.

In Romans 3:23 it says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” To sin means to say, think or do something contrary to God’s will— to fall short of God’s glory.  We have all done it. This makes us sinners who deserve punishment for our sin—living forever in hell and completely separated from God. This is not pleasant to think about, but don’t stop reading, for there is good news.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only unique Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son, Jesus, into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:16-17 NIV).  The punishment for sin is spiritual death—separation from God forever.  God’s Son, the only non-sinner ever to live, willingly died on a cross to take the punishment we deserve.  He arose from the dead three days later, making Him the Conqueror over death and hell.

We must make a decision about what He did for us.  We can reject it, and die both physically and spiritually, and go to hell.  But if we ask Him to forgive our sins, we become a Christian.  Then, although physical death will eventually occur, spiritually we will be alive and go to live with Him in heaven.

The Bible says, “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10 NIV).  Filling in the blank correctly isn’t difficult to do, but it’s a life-changing experience.  For when we believe Jesus did what He said He did, and confess we are a sinner needing forgiveness, we will receive the Holy Spirit into our heart. He will guide us each day, showing us how to live a life pleasing to God (John 14:26 NIV).

After Jesus arose from the dead, He promised to go to heaven to prepare a home for those who have accepted Him.  He said He’d return to take them to heaven to live with Him (John 14:2-3 NIV).

Many people have chosen to believe and obey these Scriptures.  They’ve invited Him into their hearts, and asked how He wants them to fill in the blanks.  He has shown them how to do it with love, obedience and service to Him, their Lord and Savior.  They don’t need to guess at the answer.  They have filled in their blank correctly.

Have you?

Reprint ** Church of God Evangel, January 2009