The Most Important Question You Will Ever Ask

by Pastor Gary Ritchie of One Way Ministries

• Toddlers ask 200-400 questions each day.

• Children ages 5-10 ask 80-100 questions per day.  

• Teenagers ask 20-50 on a daily basis.

• Adults ask 10-25 questions each day.

As I was recently reading the story in Acts 16 about Paul and Silas being jailed, I found myself contemplating the most important of all of life’s questions – no matter the age.  

Acts 16:  22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  

There it is – the question for all the ages, “What must I do to be saved? Fortunately for the jailer, Paul’s circumstances did not define his outlook.  What would your perspective be after being stripped, beaten with rods, and thrown into prison?  Not only thrown into prison, but thrown into the inner cell and ankle chained.  Could it get any worse? Yet around midnight Paul and Silas found themselves in a Prayer and Praise service.  A Fire by Night in the Inner Cell. The church showed up to minister to the inmates, the jailer included!

Suddenly – (I LOVE THE SUDDENLYS THAT GOD BRINGS), Holy Spirit moves and people begin to surrender, healed and delivered. A God orchestrated earthquake shakes the walls of the prison. It may have been similar to when Jesus stepped into Hell for those three days. No doubt, the gates of Hell shook as Jesus secured the keys to death, Hell, and the grave. Jesus gave up his life as an earthquake shook all of Jerusalem.  

The Prison Doors are opened and the shackles of all of the prisoners are loosed. One of the benefits of hanging out with God’s anointed that you are often blessed by being in the right place at the right time. This is what happens in the midst of God’s glory; Satan and his demons must bow.

Maybe you have been thrown into a prison cell – maybe of our own doing. Your prison cell may be the deepest, darkest cell in the prison. No hope for you? Your shackles are so tight that you cannot hardly move. But SUDDENLY, the Holy Spirit shows up in all of his glory! The anointing not only affected Paul and Silas but all of the prisoners. That is how God moves!

The prisoners are NOW FREE, no longer bound. The Jailer is ready to commit suicide. It would have been easy for Paul to have dismissed the jailer but he takes the time to minister to him. After encountering the supernatural power of God, the Jailer finds himself in major trouble with the authorities. In many ways, he finds himself in a deep dark hole with no relief in sight. The Jailer may have asked this question in multiple ways, in a spiritual sense or a physical sense – WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Physically, he may have realized his neck was on the line since he was responsible for the operation of the jail. What would save him from this mess? Spiritually, the atmosphere of the jail as Paul and Silas sang praises to God was just right. The Holy Spirit was active and preparing the jailer’s heart.  

Paul responds with the only answer that makes sense. He responds, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.” This story is a happily ever after ending. The Jailer got saved along with his entire family. His family tree was forever changed as the decision to commit to Christ was followed by his entire family being baptized. All because he answered the most important question that life has to offer.