A survey was conducted a few years ago by a major poll-taking organization asking more than 1000 American adults: "If you could ask God any question, what would it be?" The leading response from those polled was something to the effect of "How am I doing? ... Am I on the right track? ... Are You satisfied with my life?"

This is a common question. In fact, when you consider the consequences, it's life's most important question. Imagine the tragedy of living your whole life believing that you were doing the will of God, only to find out at the end that you had missed the mark!

This almost happened to the Apostle Paul. He was a religious fanatic who believed he was doing God's will by capturing, imprisoning, and murdering Christians. But God spoke to Paul on the road to Damascus, and it became apparent to Paul that even though he was a religious man, he didn't know the Lord and he wasn't doing the Lord's will.

Jesus warned his followers about this, too. He talked a great deal about the difference between the sheep and the goats. He taught that there is much more to being right with God than just going to religious services. At one point Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt.7:21)

There is more to being a Christian than just being religious, or just going to church. St. Augustine said, "God has some the church doesn't. And the church has some that God doesn't." Jesus said basically the same thing.

So the question is, How do I know if I'm on the right track? And if I'm not on the right track, how do I get there? The safest way to answer that question is to look at the words of Jesus. In John 10:24-29, Jesus tells us in plain language how we can be sure that we are one of His. This passage indicates there are three actions we must take if we want to be counted among the sheep of His flock. Let's examine them more closely. First of all, Jesus tells us that you must...

1. Believe with your heart, not just your head (v. 25-26)

I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

The critics of Jesus' ministry could not deny several facts about Christ. They couldn't deny that He was a dynamic teacher, they couldn't deny that He was a powerful speaker, they couldn't deny that He was a persuasive leader, and most of all they couldn't deny that He was a miracle worker. These critics may have been forced to believe certain facts about Jesus, but they didn't truly believe in Him; they did not believe that He was the Son of God. And no matter what kind of evidence they were confronted with, they were not going to change their minds.

They were like a frontier judge in New Mexico. The judge was a tough old cowboy; and as he took his place on the bench, he called for the first case. It was a man charged with horse stealing. The prosecution gave an argument, which was a rather flimsy case based on questionable circumstantial evidence. Finally, the state rested. The defendant's attorney rose and said, "Your honor, I would like to present my client's side of the case." The old judge shook his head. "Won't be necessary," he said. "In fact, any further testimony would just confuse me. I find the defendant guilty as charged."

That's how many people have treated Jesus. They don't really want to examine the evidence, because their minds are already made up. They may be willing to believe certain facts about Jesus with their heads, but they're not willing to believe with their hearts. James warns us..."You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that -- and shudder." (James 2:19)

It's one thing to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, it's quite another to obey His teaching. It's one thing to believe that Jesus can work miracles, it's quite another to trust Him to meet your needs. It's one thing to believe He died for our sins, it's quite another to give Him complete control of your life. If you want to be counted as one of His sheep, you must believe with your heart, not just your head. Secondly, you must...

2. Pursue an ongoing relationship with Christ

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Some think that the Christian life is a one-dimensional proposition: God gave us the rules. We try to follow them; and at the end of the game, He'll tally up the points. But the truth is, Jesus taught us that a relationship with God is a dynamic relationship. He said, "My sheep LISTEN to my voice, I KNOW them, and they FOLLOW me." Becoming a Christian is not just a one-time event but a day-to-day process of listening and following. Jesus said...

A. My sheep listen to my voice.

One Bible version reads "My sheep hear my voice," but the better translation is "listen." Christians have the ability to listen to the voice of Jesus because we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice." To listen implies and involves paying heed to what is heard. Do you listen or just hear? Also...

B. I know my sheep.

We don't serve an impersonal God. We serve a God who knows each and every one of us by name. Jesus speaks to you, and He expects you to listen to His voice, but remember that, when He speaks, He calls you by name. Eternal life involves not only God knowing you but you knowing God. John 17:3 says, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Also...

C. My sheep follow me.

Jesus said that His sheep are willing to follow Him. For many of His sheep, throughout the course of history, that has meant following Him to their death. It is interesting that Jesus compared us to sheep. Sheep are not the most intelligent creatures in the animal kingdom. They're not aggressive; they're not predators; they're not intimidating. But one thing they can do well: they can follow their shepherd.

There are some who try to make the Christian life unnecessarily complex. They want to weigh people down with lists of rules and regulations and restrictions that no one could possibly keep -- just like the Pharisees did in their day. But Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." Living the Christian life is not impossible. Anyone who wants to can. All you have to do is follow the shepherd's voice. Finally, Jesus tells us to...

3. Trust in God's mercy, not your own goodness (v.28-29)

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

Jesus makes it clear that eternal life is a gift, not a reward. Jesus says "I give them eternal life." It's nothing that we can earn or deserve. As Jesus was dying on the cross, one of the thieves crucified with Him asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. Jesus responded by saying, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." What had that man done to deserve eternal life? What good work had he performed to receive such a reward? Nothing! Eternal life is a gift from God and there is nothing we can do to deserve it. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus makes it clear that we are in God's Hands, He is not in ours. Jesus promises to protect us. Our security is not based on something so flimsy as our ability to hold on to God -- but rather His ability to hold on to us! And He promises, "No one can snatch you out of my hand." Not only does He protect us from outside forces but also from ourselves.

A good example is Jonah. He rejected God, he tried to run from God. But he discovered that God wasn't going to give up on him that easily! In spite of Jonah's rebellion, God kept His hand on him, and eventually Jonah was restored to useful service. In the same way, God will not give up on us, either.

Conclusion

Like the Pharisees, we often try to make our spiritual life difficult. Jesus made it simple. Where we want volumes of systematic theology, Jesus prefers to teach in parables. Where we want lists of complicated rules and regulations, Jesus defines discipleship as simply "Listening and Following." Where we want the self-satisfaction of knowing that we earned God's goodness, Jesus reminds us that we'll never earn it -- God's mercy is a gift. Some think of Christianity as a religion; Jesus teaches us that it is a relationship. Some think Christianity is obeying rules; Jesus teaches that it is knowing God-Christ.

How do you know that you're a Christian? There's only one way to know. Do you have a relationship with Christ? If you believe with your heart, not just your head...if you're willing to listen to His voice, and follow His lead...if you place your trust in God's goodness and not your own, then, yes, you have a relationship with Christ. If you've never made this decision before, but you want to now, you can begin a relationship with Christ today.

Here is a suggested prayer you might pray:

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and that I do not deserve eternal life. But I believe You died and rose from the grave to purchase a place in heaven for me. I repent of my sins and ask for your forgiveness. I place my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept the free gift of eternal life. I ask you to come into my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be both now and forever. I trust You to take charge of my life and I expect to receive the power of the Holy Spirit that I might share this faith, strength, joy and love with others. In Jesus' name. Amen.