"There will be no charges unless we collect for you." "Satisfaction guaranteed or money back." Today’s society is one that seeks a guarantee. With everything we purchase or service we seek we want to know that there is no doubt we will get what we want. When buying a car, we look for the best warranty. We seek merchandise with big names (and big prices) because we feel it is one in which we can put our trust. We do not restrict our search for guarantees to our physical lives, but long for them in our spiritual lives. People seek a way to "secure" Heaven, to know beyond any shadow of doubt they are saved.

It is this yearn for a spiritual guarantee that causes some put their trust for a "spiritual guarantee" in the wrong places. It is not a bad thing to want to know for sure where you stand before God, in fact that is a commendable desire. The problem comes when one turns to the doctrines of men to satisfy this desire. There are many who believe that once you obey the gospel, you can never fall from grace. The book of Galatians was written to Christians who were attempting to go back to seeking justification by works under the Old Law. Paul tells them "…ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). Paul also speaks of the faith of some as having "suffered shipwreck," such as Hymenaeus and Alexander (I Timothy 1:19-20). In the last part of that verse Paul says that he has delivered those two unto Satan. Will anyone say that these stand justified before God?

The epistles of John are full of "tests" that we can apply to our lives and see where we are spiritually. John writes, "By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments" (I John 1:3). John went on to say that if we claim to know Him, but do not obey Him we are a liar. Jesus stated this same fact by saying, "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). If we obey Him we can have the assurance that we are in Him, and if we are in Him we should strive to live just as Jesus did.

Another test John gives to us is one of love. Love is, and has always been, the basis of morality and the commandments of God. John tells us very plainly that "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (I John 4:8). The one who says "I love God" yet does not show love toward his fellow man, he does not truly love God. We have the supreme example of love in Jesus Christ. John writes, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (I John 3:16). This love that John speaks of is not a love of potential energy, but it is kinetic. This love is manifested in action. John writes, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (I John 3:18). If you want to know for sure where you stand before God, examine your love for your brother.

John gives us a third test to know whether or not we know Him. He says, "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin…" (I John 5:18). One might say, "If this is the case, I can never know God." While the picture may seem grim, it is not that way at all. John is not saying that the one who knows God will never sin, but his life will not be characterized by living in sin. This is the case because the one who knows God knows God’s word. "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God" (I John 3:9). A child of God has His seed (the word of God) in his heart always. As long as he keeps God’s precepts written in his heart, his life will not be characterized by sin, but righteousness. However, one may chose to kick the seed out of his heart, thus inviting sin to come and rule his life. By your life and what is in your heart you can know whether or not you are of God.

Many Christians have been heard to make comments such as, "I sure hope I make it to Heaven." They see knowing God as a guessing game they play. While we do not receive unconditional security upon our initial obedience, we can know for sure where we are headed. God tells us that if we will do these things we have full assurance of our relationship with God. This is our spiritual guarantee – Do you know God?

- Aaron Beard