I once heard a radio commercial that said: “What would it be like to receive a check for a million dollars?” I’m sure you have thought about what you would do if you were fortunate enough to receive such a generous gift. Perhaps you would invest the money so that it could grow, or perhaps spend it on some needed purchase, or give it away to a worthy cause. Regardless of how you would use the money, you would without doubt, be excited at the prospect of obtaining instant wealth.

Let’s say that some multi-billionaire for some unknown reason wrote you a check for one million dollars just moments before he died. A few days later, his attorney dropped off the check at your door with a smile and said: “Enjoy being a member of the millionaire club.” However, as you were admiring the check, you noted that it was carefully filled out including the date, your name, the amount (with all the right zeros and decimal points), but to your horror—it was not signed! Your euphoria would turn to agony as the realization that you were the proud owner of a worthless piece of paper would set in.

I was in a revival meeting where just a few days before the meetings started the assistant pastor got saved. He had grown up in a fine Christian home with parents who were in the ministry, had gone to Bible college, and was an assistant pastor of a great church. But although there were many things in his life that were in perfect order, his salvation had never been “endorsed” by the Spirit of God. The joy in his life was now radiant as the Spirit bore witness with his spirit that he was indeed a child of God. By the time the meetings ended, there were others who realized that they too were lacking a “signature.”

I love the passage in 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 that states: “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” And when the Spirit of God signs the salvation check, it’s good for all of eternity. Jesus said in John 6:35 and 37: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Later in John 10:28, He promises: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any many pluck them out of my hand.” Yes, when He signs the check, you can take it to the bank of Heaven forever!

Make sure that your check is signed! What a tragedy to go through life with all of your religious t’s crossed and all of your character i’s dotted but lacking the endorsement of God Himself. Don’t be one of the “many that will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22–23)