08/30/2026
DAY BY DAY DEVOTION
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW?
August 30, 2026
By Pastor Danny Sorrells
📖 1 John 5:13 (NKJV)
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…”
I have been a part of over a thousand funerals now. Many of them I have officiated by myself, while others I have shared with one or two other preachers. I have traveled as far as Washington State and Reno, Nevada, to preach funerals. I have done several in Mississippi and Alabama and more than I could count all over Georgia.
I have preached the funerals of family members, friends, church members, and people I had never met. I have stood beside the caskets of the young and the old. I have ministered to families whose loved ones died from accidents, cancer, heart attacks, su***de, and many other causes.
For some reason, God has placed me in this position. I love people, and through the years I have often been the preacher families call when death comes.
I remember years ago when I was pastoring in Monroe. I went to the hospital to visit a man who had suffered a light stroke. He and his wife were sitting there when I arrived, and after we had talked for a few minutes, his wife said, “Preacher, we’ve got a question for you.”
I said, “Okay, what is it?”
She said, “We don’t go to your church, but we were wondering, when you die, will you do our funeral?”
Without missing a beat, I said, “Ma’am, I’d be honored to do your funeral.”
We went right on talking.
A few minutes later, she suddenly hollered, “Did you hear what I said?”
I said, “Yes, ma’am.”
She said, “You heard what I said?”
I laughed and said, “Yes, ma’am. You meant, if you die before I do, would I do your funeral. I knew what you meant!”
Just this week I preached the funeral of one of my cousins. A lady came up to me and said, “Preacher Danny, I’ve already told my children and the rest of my family that you’re supposed to do my funeral when I die.”
I told her, “I’d be honored to, but I want you to understand something. I might go before you!”
She said, “I’m in my 80s, and you’re still just a youngin’!”
But here is the truth: none of us knows who will go first.
Over the last few weeks, I have preached several funerals for people in their 50s and 60s. I am 63 years old myself.
Friend, I’m telling you all of that to tell you one thing:
MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY.
Your life on this earth is going to end someday.
Mine will too.
The question isn’t whether we are going to die. Unless Jesus returns first, death is coming for every one of us.
The question is:
Where will you spend eternity?
Sometimes I am asked to preach the funeral of someone I never knew. I will ask the family about that person’s relationship with the Lord. Many times they will begin telling me what a good person they were.
“They helped everybody.”
“They loved their family.”
“They would give you the shirt off their back.”
“They never bothered anybody.”
Those are wonderful things to say about someone.
But being a good person doesn’t save us. Jesus does.
There must come a time when we personally recognize that we are sinners and put our faith in Jesus Christ.
That is why I love the words of 1 John 5:13. John says that we can know that we have eternal life.
You don’t have to say, “I hope I’m saved.”
You don’t have to say, “I think I’m saved.”
You can know that you know.
And friend, salvation is simple enough that I often explain it with three letters:
A — ADMIT
Admit that you are a sinner.
📖 Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
B — BELIEVE
Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again. Put your faith in Him and what He did for you.
📖 John 3:16 reminds us that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
C — CONFESS
Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and call upon Him for salvation.
📖 Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’”
One day somebody will preach my funeral.
One day somebody may preach yours.
But the most important decision concerning that day cannot be made on that day.
It must be made today.
The preacher who stands at your funeral cannot save you.
Your family cannot save you.
Your church membership cannot save you.
Your good deeds cannot save you.
Only Jesus saves.
So before you go any farther today, settle the most important question you will ever answer:
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW?
If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, rejoice today! Thank Him for the eternal life He has given you, and then Shine & Share so somebody else can know Him too.
But if you don’t know, don’t put it off.
Call on Jesus today.
Because one day your life on earth will end—but eternity never will.
Day by Day, make sure you’re ready to meet Jesus.
