Convert from the past year or so here, I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and what might be described as intrusive thoughts. Recently I had kind of a crisis of faith; I perceived a thought that was something like, this is your last chance. By not doing something, you've rejected Jesus. The following day, I asked someone not particularly familiar with Scripture what they thought of assurance of salvation and as they pointed at me and quoted Jesus from the Last Supper a comparison was made to Judas in an attempt to imply anybody could be forgiven. The person I was talking with obviously wasn't familiar with that Scripture, and the comparison really gnawed at me. I was physically sick for days at the thought of possibly not being forgivable. I saw so many people struggling with similar fears on sites like this. Here is the conclusion that dawned on me. Obviously, if any good comes from this, it is God's.
If you really suspect you're unforgivable, you are left with only three possible outcomes.
If you really suspect you're unforgivable, you are left with only three possible outcomes.
- Imagine that it is not true. You can still be saved. Have faith in Jesus.
- Imagine that it is true. You could accept defeat, and you would have lost faith.
- Imagine that it is true. You have another option, to have faith anyway, hope there is some way still to be forgiven, and believe Jesus will save you. That's faith.