By R.B. Shiflet
Almost all societies throughout history have been divided between the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.” Efforts have been made to eliminate the distance between the two, but no one has been successful, including the Founding Fathers of our own republic.
We have heard the story (probably apocryphal) of Marie Antoinette, wife of Emperor Louis XVI, who during the dark days of the French Revolution was told the people had no bread. She allegedly replied, “Let them eat cake.” In more modern times, Imelda Marcos, “First Lady” of the Philippine Republic, openly boasted of her closets full of shoes in the Malacanan Palace, while her fellow citizens walked bare footed down the streets of the Islands. More recently, we have read that federal monies designated to help the unfortunate flood victims in New Orleans, have in some cases been used for frivolous cosmetic surgery.
Unfortunately, there are the “Haves” and the “Have Nots” in the spiritual realm also. 1 John 5:11 says:
“This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
It is easy to see the “Haves” and the “Have Nots.” If we have the Son, we have life. If we have not the Son of God, we have not life.
But how do we know we have the Son? Not by religion or ritual; not by works of the Law nor by our attempts to live holy lives. “These things have I written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” If we are trusting Christ and Christ alone for salvation, we are the “Haves” and we can know it. It is a sad fact that many who are “Spiritual Haves” do not have the assurance of their salvation. How wonderful to have eternal life; how sad to have it and not know it. Let us rest in the assurance of our eternal life (See John 5:24; 10:28,29; Philippians 1:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:12; Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 2:9-13).
We can also be very sure that we have God’s complete revelation today. We do not need Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures; we do not need the Book of Mormon, nor any of the other false “additions” to God’s complete revelation. God gave the Apostle Paul the revelation of the mystery to “fulfill (complete) the Word of God.”
To God be the Glory!
