The Time Is Now!!

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Hebrews 9:27

Death. The one thing we try to escape, yet it’s our only escape from this world of pain, sorrow, grief and despair. The only entry point to the beautiful life that awaits those who have put their faith in Christ Jesus. The only entry point to be reunited with our Saviour. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time pondering about death and eternity since the passing of my grandmother, mother and brother, and recently caught myself daydreaming; wondering what they’re doing as they await Christ’s return; wondering what’s happening to those who died but did not put their faith in Christ; wondering when my end will come.

My curious wondering led me back to 2018, to the week before my grandma died. That week, one of my sisters visited her, and while there, they shared the gospel of Jesus. Amazingly, granny accepted the free gift of salvation, repented of her sins and put her faith in Christ. For the bible tells us in Romans 10:9-10: if you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. I’m thankful granny got the opportunity to openly declare that Jesus is Lord before she breathed her last breath. I’m thankful that despite her physical sickness, God brought spiritual healing.

Although she was sick, we didn’t know the severity of her illness, nor the seriousness of her condition, as she seldom visited the doctor for checkups. During my prayer time one day, the Lord impressed on my heart to call granny and pray. When I called, the caregiver answered, and quickly handed her the phone. I mentioned I called because I wanted to pray with her, which I did. When I finished, she said something to me I’ll never forget. She said, “Debbie, I’m laying here thinking who I’ve hurt.” To this day, I truly believe that was the reason I was led to call, it was to lead her in a prayer of repentance and forgiveness for those she had hurt in her lifetime. I’m thankful God changed my grandma’s heart, that even on her deathbed, she was seeking to reconcile with those she offended. At the end of our conversation, she thanked me, said goodbye, and asked me to convey her love to my husband and children. After hanging up the phone, I called my husband crying. I told him I felt like granny just said her last goodbye to me, that would be the last time I heard her voice. Four days later, on December 02, 2018 granny died. I wondered why God didn’t grant her more time on Earth. I wondered why she was taken away so soon after putting her faith in Christ. I wondered if our prayers were answered.

In the midst of all my wondering, I’m thankful God hasn’t left certain things a mystery. God, in His abundant mercy and grace provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him - a way to escape His wrath, which was poured out on His sinless Son in our stead. He has graciously given each of us an opportunity to repent of our sins and put our faith in the One who has granted us eternal life - Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many have chosen to reject this free gift, and chase material things and sinful pleasures that bring temporary satisfaction, but eternal damnation. They live independent of God, and while depending on their own good deeds to save them from the wrath to come - they choose death over eternal life. They choose sin over salvation.

In my pondering about life and death, I decided to read the account of the rich man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31.

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’

Wow, what a chilling passage. The finality of death should truly cause us to reflect on how we live while on this Earth. There is no decision making in the grave, nor is there the opportunity to repent. Now is the time. The only time. The decisions we make and fail to make now have eternal consequences. Have you ever wondered what your end will be? Have you ever wondered where you’d spend eternity? Whether you choose to believe it or not, the reality is, there is life after death; however, only those who repent, put their faith in Christ and follow Him will partake in that beautiful gift. God in His abundant grace, provided a way for us to spend eternity with Him despite our sinful disposition. Despite what we truly deserved. That is the beauty of the gospel message.

I encourage you to take some time to sit quietly by yourself, and ask the Lord to grant you the gift of faith to believe. Ask Him to give you a contrite heart that will lead you to repent and put your faith in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4a, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ. Ask God to open your eyes that you may see Him as He truly is. Good. It’s an unfortunate reality that many think they can live independently of God and expect to spend eternity with Him. The pain and suffering Christ endured on the cross, along with His death and resurrection was for our freedom. It was for sinners like you and me.

I’m so grateful for that blessed day, when granny was given the faith to believe the message of the gospel and place her faith in Christ. In the end, she didn’t allow any religious denomination or temporary pleasures to prohibit her from choosing life! After all, God is not going to ask us which church we attended, or how much time we spent doing good deeds. He is concerned with whether we accepted or rejected His Son. Unfortunately, many people get caught up in legalistic practices that do not save our souls. Our church attendance or good deeds do not grant us eternal life; faith in Christ alone does.

Dear friends, you have the opportunity to make that choice. For one day, we all will appear before the judgment seat of God and will give an account for our lives. If you have denied Him on earth, He will deny you; however, if you have placed your faith in Christ, then eternal life awaits you in heaven. I leave you with this question, if you live independent of Christ while on this earth, how do you plan to live eternally with Him in heaven?

If this message has convicted you in any way, and you want to put your trust in Christ as the only means of salvation, join me as we read this prayer of repentance:

Dear Heavenly Father.

Thank You for giving your Son to die on the cross for my sins. I am sorry for living independently of you. I am sorry for the many sins I have committed. I now surrender my life to you and ask you to come into my heart and make me yours. In Jesus name Amen

If you would like more information on how to continue in this new life in Christ, please feel free to inbox me.