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Thoughts from the Corner Box
Because He Said I Could
One of our jobs as Christians is to go out and make disciples of all nations. To some, this comes easily, but to others, people like me, it is not that easy to do. I can talk to someone all day about my “religion.” We can discuss what we believe, why we believe, and everything you can think of about believing. Yet I cannot find the right words to say to someone who isn’t a believer, or to someone who is on the fence about whether to accept and believe.
I probably think about this more than I should, and I think I do that because I feel that I come up very short in fulfilling my role as a Christian. I’ve said a lot of things to many people, but I don’t know if I made a Christian impression on anyone. I wonder, do I say the right things? Do I say things with confidence, or do I still leave them with questions? Do I not make it sound believable? What, pray tell, is my problem?
I saw a video recently that made things easier for me, and maybe it will for others too. You see, we don’t know what is going on inside of someone’s heart, but God does. We don’t see the struggle someone is having with their life, their relationships, their friendships, their families, but God does. Sometimes I think we try too hard. We try to explain how it will be for them and how great life will be, but these unbelievers have eyes to see and ears to hear, and they see and hear how messed up some of us are. They immediately think that the life of the believer isn’t any better than the life of an unbeliever.
As a believer, here is what I think and know. My life hasn’t been a walk in the park. I’ve had roadblocks thrown in front of me, but I’ve always come out okay when the roadblocks were knocked down or removed. Unbelievers might have the same response, but I think I have something they don’t. When the roadblocks popped up in front of me, I had someone to call. I had a friend who listened to my thoughts, my concerns, and my fears. I had someone who said that no matter what, He would be with me. I have that friend, and unbelievers do not because they haven’t answered the door when my friend was knocking.
What I’ve come to believe is that we don’t have to know Bible verses, memorize the Apostle’s Creed, or know the first or last book of the Bible or any books in between. The video I watched said the man who was on the cross next to Jesus got to heaven, and when the angel asked how he got there, he didn’t know. He was asked several questions, and he didn’t know the answer to any of them. Then Saint Peter came and asked him a few more questions; one was about the doctrine of justification, and the man had no clue, but there he was in heaven. So, the thief went to heaven and really had no heavenly qualifications, but he knew how he got there; now I know, and I hope what I am going to say helps you know too.
I have been a believer for many years, but that isn’t the reason I will go to heaven. No, the thief on the cross didn’t earn his way to heaven. He just trusted the man on the cross beside him. I’m going to heaven for one reason, and it’s not because I believe. I’m going to follow the thief on the cross to heaven. I’m going because of Jesus, the man on the middle cross. I’m going to heaven because He went to the cross for me. I’m going to heaven because I put my trust in him. I’m going to heaven because He said I could. Amen!
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37
Sandra Mayhugh, September 2026
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
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