One remarkable story in the Bible is in the book of Acts in which this question is asked. In Acts 16:16-34, we are introduced to a jailer who at once felt hopeless but found the greatest hope.
As background, the Apostle Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi for healing a girl from a spirit of divination. As they were in the jail cell praying and singing hymns to God, the foundations of the prison were shaken by an earthquake and the doors opened (Acts 16:26). The jailer, awakened, seeing the prison doors opened and believing all of the prisoners had escaped, feared for his life so he was poised to take his own life, until stopped by the voice of Paul.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
What is truly incredible is their answer:
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
To believe what has already been done.
God had already paid the price through Jesus to atone for his sins and all of our sins.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”- Romans 5:8-9
We also see that it is not because of our works that we are saved.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
Looking back on the story of the jailer, Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house.
We see a transformation because of his belief in God. From walking in fear and preparing to end his life, we see a shift by his newfound hope and faith. The jailer walks in boldness as he takes the men to his house so they can baptize him and his family. The jailer risked his own life by taking them out of prison and taking them to his home, so his family and all who were in his home could hear the gospel. In verse 34, we also see that he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. – Acts 16: 32:34
Reflecting and meditating on this story, we see we can have this same hope as the jailer. Hope not on what we have done or the fear from this world, but rather hope in what God has done for us. By grace, how He has saved us. We can live lives that reflect the hope we have in Jesus.
Graceful Strides 