“People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Matthew 24:39 NLT)
As a believer in Jesus, it’s essential that we maintain a posture of preparedness, not only for His second coming, but for our first “going!” The last time I checked the death rate for human beings was still 100%. We’re not getting out of this life alive unless the Lord comes and transforms us, but either way, it will happen in the “twinkling of an eye.” Are you ready?
Here’s the scary part of that to me. There are those in our spheres of influence who have expressed interest in going to church or coming to Christ, but haven’t. Why not? Largely because Satan has them believing they have more time. So, what’s the rush?
Think of the 2,977 people who went to work per usual on 9-11-2001. Just another day…until it wasn’t! On average 150,000 people die each day in the world. How many of them do you think leave their house planning to die? My guess is, not very many, yet, according to current statistics only 31.6% of the world’s population is Christian.
Do you believe that anyone who doesn’t have a relationship with Jesus will not go to heaven? Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” “Yeh, but isn’t that very exclusive?” No, actually it’s very inclusive. The invitation is to “whosoever will may come.” The only people excluded are those who choose to exclude themselves. Jesus’ love is for everyone period! But He loves us enough to not force us to surrender our lives to Him. That’s got to be our choice.
Therein lies the rub. I’ve got to believe the vast majority of “lost” people, people without a saving knowledge of Jesus (i.e. “a relationship with Him”), don’t want to go to hell, yet they fail to realize life without Jesus IS hell! Hell is anyplace God is not, thus, to have a heart void of God’s presence is to be filled with emptiness, separated from love, and destined to an eternity of hopelessness.
“That’s not true!” I can hear someone saying. “I have family and friends I love! A career I love! A dog I love!” And on and on it goes. God IS love, so, evidence of His presence is experienced even without a relationship with Him but seeing it and experiencing it are two different things.
It’s like dating and marriage. You may have “loving feelings” when you’re passionately kissing while dating, but that can’t compare to the love that fills your heart when you’re holding your spouse as they’re taking their last breath after years of committed love for one another. Love isn’t an emotion, it’s a commitment, like the commitment Jesus made to me and you on the Cross.
His committed love for us paid the penalty for our sin as He hung defenseless on the Cross in my place and yours. He paid a debt He didn’t owe in order that we might find a love we couldn’t earn or deserve. Everyone will die physically, but not everyone will go to heaven. Only those who have understood their sin debt has been paid and who then yield their life and allegiance to Jesus, not out of obligation, but out of appreciation and recognition of all He’s done to make our new life in Him possible.
Eternal existence is guaranteed to everyone! Heaven is not! It’s your choice. You must decide! But time isn’t on your side. PLEASE, make your decision to give your life to Jesus now, in THIS moment. It’s the only one you have!
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 