1 John 5:13
[13] “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”
John is going to bring this epistle to a close very soon. He emphasizes in our verse that he has written to believers, “these things”, so that they will know that they have eternal life. His purpose is clear, and the content of his epistle has been just as convincing. The things he has given, will help any new convert, or struggling believer, find the assurance of salvation. He has been inspired by the Holy Spirit to pen down the Word of God.
I like to think, in this verse, that God hands every believer a check. On the check there is no dollar amount, but something far greater than money. He has given every believer eternal life. We that are saved possess this life now, but one day each of us will cash in on it, as we leave this world. We will live eternally, like never before. We will live free from sin and sorrow. We will live free from the cares of this world, and the tempter who fights against us. In eternity, we will live free from a body of corruption. What a blessing to know you have eternal life!
Whenever I think about this gift, I’m reminded that a check is only as good as the person who signs it. I could write someone a check for a million dollars, but it wouldn’t be worth the paper it’s written on. I don’t have the resources to back it up. If President Trump was to write someone a check for a million dollars, you could take it to the bank and cash it. His signature on the check is what makes the check valuable. The day the Lord saved you, he gave you eternal life, and you can take it to the bank. His signature is what makes it valuable. It is written in the blood of his precious Son, who died at Calvary. He has given us the Bible, and the Bible gives us the assurance that the check is good!