Assurance of Salvation

Ducks come in all varieties: small, large, colorful, plain, grey, black, white, brown and everything between. Even though they may look different, ducks have a few things in common. They have webbed feet, wings, feathers, beaks, and they make the same sound: Quack! Have you been around a group, or flock, of ducks quacking all at the same time? Wow, it can be loud and obnoxious or annoying.

This one duck I want to tell you about is a mallard duck. He was very pretty and very colorful. At the time of this story, he was a young duck or a duckling. He lived in a big family and part of a large flock. He had an unique name: Quackers. He was called that because he loved to quack, or talk, all the time just to hear himself.

The lake they live near was very large. There was a special part far across the lake, behind some large boulders, where the water drops off into another lake and continues into a large stream. The water there can pull a duck over the falls into the smaller lake and then down the stream. It can be very dangerous. 

This place was called Crashing Falls. Quackers cannot see that part of the lake from where he lives.  Big brave and crazy ducks like to go there and see which one of them can get closest to the falls. They get close, turn, and swim as hard and furious as they can to get back to safety. It was dangerous and tough to do. One duck got swept over the falls, head over heels, and hit his wing on a rock at the bottom. It took months of healing his wing before he could fly again.

The ducklings are not permitted to go there, and most of the older ducks are wise enough, not go and try the foolish game. The ducks who have risked their necks in the game of survival came back to the flock and talked about it.

Quackers was enthralled and fascinated. He listened to every detail. The only time he floated quiet. Quackers then retold the story to other ducklings. “Have you heard what happened at Crashing falls?” Then on and on he quacked, repeating it over and over again. He listened to the new adventures when a group came back from Crashing Falls. He pictured it in his head, even though he had never been there.

One day, he met a very young duckling. This duckling was just old enough to leave his mother’s side and play with the other ducklings. Quackers liked the new duckling named Glider. He decided he'd show Glider all the fun things to do. They dove under water, splashed, raced, and played tag. Quackers liked to watch Glider in the water because he swam so smoothly that he barely made the water ripple behind him. Quackers tried to imitate Glider, but he couldn’t sail through the water without leaving a much larger ripple. Quackers didn’t like to be out done by the little fellow. So, he thought about what he could do that was special too.

Quackers remembered about Crashing Falls. Quackers had heard the stories so many times and had pictured it in his head. He forgot he had never been there. Quackers told Glider all about how much fun he had at Crashing Falls. The stories he had heard became his own stories. He described everything from how cool the spot behind the boulders was, to the lily pads that hung close to the boulders. He told Glider how loud the waterfall was. He spoke of the frogs and fish he had seen there. Then, he talked about how strong the current was and how hard he had to swim to fight it so he wouldn't be pulled down the falls. With wide eyes, Glider quietly listened.

Just then, Quackers’ and Glider’s moms came by and overheard what Quackers said. Quackers’ mom pulled him aside. “Quackers have you gone over to Crashing Falls?” 

Quackers nodded. “Quackers you are not old enough to go there and I have never seen you wander that far. Are you certain?”

Quackers again nodded then explained what he had seen.  

Quackers’ mom had been there before and knew that it was different than he described. She realized Quackers had heard the stories so many times he actually believed he had been there. Quackers’ mom decided the only way to show him he had not been there was to take him there. She told him to stay very close and to obey her voice and not to go near the falls.

As they reached the boulders surrounding the area where Crashing falls were, he realized it looked different than he remembered. She showed him the ducks trying to swim away from the falls and how scary it was. He looked all around and listened to the roar of the falls and finally realized he had never truly been there before. Quackers was confused and sad.

As they swam back home, they talked about what had happened. Mom explained, Quackers had heard the stories over and over again, so he felt like he had lived it. He had experienced it all in his head.

Boys, girls, teens, and adults: this same thing could have, or is, happening to you. Let me explain. Some of us, who have grown up in a Christian family and have gone to church for most of our lives, can believe something that is not true. Maybe someone close to you, maybe a sibling or your parents, have accepted Jesus as their Savior. They now have a relationship with Him. They have probably excitedly talked about trusting Jesus. You have heard many times how Jesus died on the cross for your sin. You have heard many people say they have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior. You have heard it so many times, you believe it of yourself. You think in your head you are a Christian, just because you have heard it so many times.

I ask you to look deep in your heart and really make sure you have truly accepted Jesus as your Savior. You probably know these verses: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved… This word "believe" is not just believing in your head, but believing deep in your heart.

One way to know you have truly accepted Jesus as your Savior is if you are able to explain it to someone. Can you tell someone how to accept Jesus as their Savior? Go to your parent and tell them how they can accept Jesus as their Savior. They may already know Jesus as their Savior, but that is okay. Instead, you may want your parent to go over it with you again. This can also help you to know for certain. Remember Quackers, our duckling friend? Quackers had listened to the stories so many times he really believed he had been there and done the things he had heard about. He was wrong. He had never been there before. He had never done it.

Many years ago, there was a young boy whose older sister had accepted Jesus as her Savior. She talked about Jesus all the time. The young boy heard all the stories about Jesus and thought he had asked Jesus to be his Savior, too. But he hadn’t. He thought so because he had heard it so many times.

After a while, he realized deep in his heart he had not accepted Jesus as his Savior. So, he went to his dad and asked him to help him. That boy made sure  that what he thought and had heard was very real and true in his heart. He accepted Jesus as his Savoir that day. Now, it was not just in his head but in his heart. That boy grew up to be a pastor. What if he just thought he had accepted Jesus all his life and never made sure? He wouldn’t be going to heaven someday or be a pastor. That is a very scary thing. So make sure for yourself that you have truly accepted Jesus as your Savior so you can go to heaven someday. For more information, you can look  back at the lesson on Salvation.

Memorize: 1John 5:13a These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…

Verses in NKJ unless otherwise stated.