You think it won’t happen to you, at least not yet. Death.
But it happened to a friend of mine just last night; a fellow blogger and most of her family passed from this life to the next as their home burned around them.
You think you have plenty of time.
As I prepared my children for bed this evening, we read a chapter from one of our Trailblazer books about the Salvation Army. This particular story happens to be about two orphans who sought refuge from the faith-based group.
And I thought of my friend Mandy’s surviving children, how they would be going to bed this evening for the first time without any parents. My heart broke for them all over again.
Without thinking about whether it was a good time or not, I told my kiddos about my friend’s tragic death right then and there. We talked about and prayed for the surviving children who I am sure feel left behind. My daughter even asked if we could adopt them, which brought a small smile to my face.
We talked about Jesus and how happy I was to know my friend and her family were now in Heaven even though I’m shocked and saddened to realize she will no longer live in this world.
Her death is the most recent in a string of deaths that have occurred in our lives this year.
And I keep thinking, all day long, we just don’t know how much time we have left.
I’m thinking of a man who sat in front of my church-planting husband and I last week, a man who heard the gospel clearly explained, a man who told us he knew he was headed for Hell. But when we asked if he was ready to accept Christ as his Savior, he responded with an honest, “No.”
He’s not ready. He thinks he has more time.
I’m thinking of another man who recently passed away, a man who was laying in a hospital bed, a man who would never return to his earthly home. This man, this father, he too heard the gospel message, but this man said “yes” to God. And I’m confident that he now resides in Heaven.
I’m remembering a woman we spoke with a over a year ago now who has attended church her entire life, but when asked if she knew she was going to Heaven, her best answer was, “I hope so.”
I’m thinking that lost people are all around us here and wondering what are we really doing, I mean really doing, to make sure they have that same opportunity to know Jesus Christ?
What have I done here in this space to make sure you have that opportunity, too?
You think you have plenty of time…. until you don’t.
Life is fragile and temporary, but a vapor in the wind (James 4:14).
So in light of my friend’s unexpected passing, I’m appreciating my spouse more, and I’m holding my children tighter and telling them how much I love them.
But, friend, there are things in this world that matter even more than love for family and friends, things that matter beyond this life and for eternity.
So all day long I;ve had this burden to tell you what you need to hear most in the world.
God loves you and it’s His greatest desire to have a relationship with you. He created you for a purpose.
But sin creates a gap that we cannot overcome on our own.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23
We like to think of sin as the really bad things – like murder and rape and theft, etc. But sin is anytime we choose our way over God’s way. It’s missing the mark of perfection, and I don’t know about you, but I know for certain I am not perfect.
According to the first part of Romans 6:23, the consequence of our sin is death, separation from God both here on earth and for all of eternity.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom. 6:23
The Good News, also called the gospel, is that God desires relationship with us so much that He made a plan for our redemption. He provided a substitute who would pay the price of death for our sin – His one and only son, Jesus Christ, who bled red on the old rugged cross so that we might live!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8
Not only that, but Jesus didn’t stay dead. No! He rose again, proving his power over death and His ability to keep the promise of new life (1 Cor. 15:1-8).
Here’s the part some of us fail to understand – we cannot earn salvation on our own. We cannot make ourselves acceptable to God. As a pastor’s wife, I’ve seen many who falsely believe that they need to clean their acts up first and then come to Christ.
That’s putting the cart before the horse, friend, for two reasons.
First, we can never be “good” enough or righteous enough to please God on our own.
Second, we need Jesus to help us make changes in our lives. It’s only by allowing Christ to work in and through us that we can be the people we need to be, the people we were created to be from the beginning of time.
Are there broken areas in your life?
Do you struggle to overcome addiction?
Do you seek help to forgive others and heal from old wounds?
Do you wish for whole and healthy relationships?
Do you feel like a failure who can’t seem to do anything right?
Christ alone is the answer to those struggles. He alone has the power to transform us from the inside out!
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Cor. 5:17
But that power is only for those who accept Him. Accepting Christ means acknowledging your own sin problem, and recognizing and believing in Jesus as the only solution.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Rom. 10:9-10
The Bible is clear that salvation is as simple as a choice to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to reconcile yourself with God and to ask for forgiveness. There are no magic prayers to pray, no special words – just a confession that you are a sinner in need of saving, and that you believe Jesus alone can save you.
Let me offer another word of caution. Many people falsely believe that they have faith in God when what they really have is just a belief that there is a God. The two are not one and the same.
According to God’s Word, even the demons believe that God exists, and they recognize that Jesus is the Son of God. Yet we know they will not receive eternal life in Heaven. Instead, they will remain separated from God and destined for Hell.
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:19
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Mt. 7:21
Real faith in God is characterized by a belief that you are a helpless sinner, and a personal trust in Jesus’s work on the cross as a payment for your sin. Real faith humbly submits to Jesus, the son of God.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6
If you are a visual learner, then please watch this video for a clear explanation!
The truth is that none of us are guaranteed even another hour, and this is one decision you cannot afford to put off.
I’m asking you, friend, do you know Christ?
If you’ve never put your faith in Christ as your Savior, would you do so today? I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have – email me at jstults@beingconfidentofthis.com .
If you’ve already taken that step to trust Christ, are you living out His plan for your life? Are you telling others of the Good News?
Because the truth is that it could happen to you; in fact, someday it will happen to you.
Use your time wisely, friends.
Live a life that matters.
Jen
For more on this subject, please visit these trusted sources:
How to Begin a Relationship With God
Who Is God and What Does He Have to Do with Me?
