Are You Prepared?

“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:48)

As I sat through my devotional time this morning, God broke my heart over the lost and hurting of this world.  Not just those in faraway countries, but those in America, in my state, and my next door neighbor.  Did you know that, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people..."  (Hebrew 9:27-28a)

So what happens once we leave this earth, which each of us will do someday?  It is difficult to understand the answer because it involves a world that goes beyond all that we know and understand. We already know from scripture that we will be given immortal bodies and this level of existence will eventually be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10-13), but even that is not explained in significant detail.  However, in Revelation 20:11-15 a Day of Judgment is described.  And this description of the Day of Judgment is representative of what will be revealed that day.

Once we are gathered before God's throne then, “...he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.  He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:31)   Then we will each be sent either to heaven or hell.  The reality of heaven will be more beautiful than our mortal minds can now comprehend.  But hell will equally be even more terrible than the symbol of "a lake that burns with fire and is not quenched.”  (Mark 9:48)

The big question, though, is not what is heaven or hell like, but how do we get to either?

And if you have not been willing to turn away from your sins (repent), or put your faith in Jesus Christ and confess Him before others, then you will not make it to heaven.  Mark 16:16 teaches us that, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."  The final judgement will come when we stand before God and He asks, “Why should I let you in?” 

There is no escaping the Day of Judgment.  It is an appointment that we all must attend.  We will not be able to call up Jesus and give Him an excuse as to why we can’t make it.  We cannot call in sick. 

Scripture tells us that, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." (Romans 3:10-11)  And that, " All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)  No matter how creative we may be trying to earn eternal life, without Jesus we will all fall far short. 

               

Yet there is hope!  1 John 1:8-9 tells us, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Solomon wisely wrote, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  And with that in mind my friend, may I encourage you to realize that now is the time to ask for God's mercy.   

We are still living in a day when God will hear your cry, and you can receive His mercy and forgiveness.  But the time will soon be here when each one of us will come before the Judge. And on that day, when we stand before God, He will ask, “Why should I let you in?”  On our own we will NOT have an answer.  Our creative attempts to “earn” eternal life fall short.  Only by believing in the Son of the most High God, and accepting the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your sins, will you be allowed into heaven. 

Judgment Day is coming.  Are you ready for it?  Are you sure that God will confirm that you are among the ones who will enter into heaven?  If not, I invite you to repent (turn away) of your sin, and trust in Christ as your Savior today.  Don’t delay.  

Remember!  “...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, You Will Be Saved.” (Romans 10:9)

If you would like to talk more about your future in eternity, please contact me in the comments section below, on FB, or you can email me at: lifesjourney1949@gmail.com

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