Thursday, July 1, 2010

Twenty-Four Hours To Live

All the time we hear ourselves and one another use the word 'tomorrow'. "I'll do that tomorrow." "There's always tomorrow." "You'll have to wait until tomorrow." "Let's talk about this tomorrow." "See you tomorrow!" We all run our lives on the assumption that there will be tomorrow. Not just tomorrow but next week, next month, even next year!

What if we don't have tomorrow?

What if, while I'm writing this or while you're reading this, one of dies? What if Christ comes back? I could write this, post it, walk outside and get hit by a car. Never to live again. Never to see tomorrow. You could keel over dead just there . . . reading. 

Truth is, none of us is guaranteed tomorrow. We're not even guaranteed a single minute. You could have been gone just now. Oh. And now. 

Christ could have rapture all those who are saved right there. Aaaand there. 

Still here? How about now? If you're still alive, it's a miracle. Really, it's a blessing. God gave you the past however many years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds you've been alive. God is giving you whatever amount of time you have left.

Are you breathing?

Check your pulse. 

Is your heart still beating? 

Good. 

Or . . . 

is it bad? 

Somebody died today. 

Someone is dying. 

Does that make you think? 

It should. 

You still with me? 

You are blessed. 

What if I told you that you have 24 hours to live? 
This question is asked all the time. Nothing new. But have you ever really thought about it? Twenty. Four. Hours. Left. That's it. After that, there's no more. 

Well, except the Judgement. 
That's right. You're going to be judged for everything you've done in your life. By God. 

Are you ready?? 

What is 'being ready'? 

'Being ready' means that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. 

What does that mean?

How do I do that?

Wait a minute . . .     
Why will we be judged?

Because we are sinners. 
Romans 3:10* "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one."
No one is exempt from this statement. We fall short of God's Holiness.
Romans 3:23* "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Why are we sinners? 

Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Because of this, man has fallen. Our first 'parents' were sinners, so we inherited sin from them. We are all born sinners, and because of this, we will all die. 
Romans 5:12* "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." 

Because we are sinners we all deserve to spend eternity in Hell. But Jesus Christ has offered us the gift of eternal life in Heaven. 
Romans 6:23* "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

How can He do that?

Jesus Christ offers us eternal life because He died and rose again for our sins. He took the punishment and died in our places. Jesus is offering everyone in the world the greatest gift of all--eternal life in Heaven. 

How does one accept that gift?

I cannot say it any better than Romans 10:9-13*
(9)"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.
(12) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him
(13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

So, back to the original thought. Twenty-four hours to live. Are you ready? What if that twenty-four hours was twenty-four minutes? Twenty-four seconds?  Ready?

There's going to be a day when we have no time left. What will you do with the little time you have? Will you spend it serving God? Or serving self? 

It's your choice. 

I just hope you make the right one.

You still alive?

Thank God for that minute.

That breath.

That heartbeat.                     





*All verses used are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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