I’ve been wrong about many
things in the past, and concerning many different issues.
Guess what? Even
though I’m getting “older and wiser,” I’m still not always right about
everything.
This isn’t a confession. It
is a fact of life for all of us. Now I realize some folks would hesitate or
even deny this to be true, but true it is.
Not every wrong decision will
have harsh consequences, but some are downright life changing. Allow me to
provide some examples.
DECISION: I’m a teenager and
make the wrong choice about who to date this week.
CONSEQUENCE: Not a problem. I
move on to someone else next time.
DECISION: I’m a college
student, taking my final exam. One wrong answer on the test question has
produced a “D” instead of a “C.”
CONSEQUENCE: If my previous
grades are good, it isn’t a problem. However, if they are not, I may be
repeating a course, costing extra money and time.
DECISION: I marry the wrong
person.
CONSEQUENCE: Miserable
marriage.
DECISION: I live in a small apartment,
but want a dog, a small dog, like a
Chihuahua. I like the Mastiff better, so I buy it.
CONSEQUENCE: I may need a
backhoe instead of a pooper scooper.
DECISION: I decide to drive
my car through the flooded street because I’m in a hurry.
CONSEQUENCE: Drowning.
DECISION: I choose to die
without Christ.
CONSEQUENCE: An eternity in
hell.
I’m sure I fooled no one. You
knew exactly where I was headed with this. The thing is it’s the truth. Jesus
says the Truth will set us free, and He is the Truth. Every human being has to
make a decision about Jesus Christ and the wrong decision has eternal
consequences.
We make many decisions during
our lives. Even in just one day’s time, we make numerous decisions. While most
of them are inconsequential, some can have tragic outcomes. The most tragic of
all though is that one decision that affects our eternal destiny, if we make
the wrong choice.
There are those in this world
who are die-hard atheists who say they do not believe in God, and are even
almost militant about it. They don’t believe in Him, but yet they never miss an
opportunity to fight against Him. I could never understand that. If they don’t
believe in God, why should they care what someone says in support of their
belief in God? Their logic makes no sense.
Other folks just don’t think
much about God. They’re going to live forever, and they don’t have time to deal
with that issue. They remind me of the man in Luke 12:16-21.
Is the atheist correct that
there is no God? The agnostic isn’t sure. Are they correct who think that God
will let them in Heaven anyway, because their good deeds outweigh the bad? Is
there life after death? Do we just die and no longer exist? Do all go to Heaven
when death comes calling?
Remember, if we get the wrong
answer about God and eternity, we aren’t just wrong, we’re dead wrong, forever.
God is real and sent His Son
Jesus to die for the sins of the world. Jesus died and rose again. All our sins
have been paid, but they are not credited to our account until we call upon Him
to save us. Simply believe in Jesus that He died for you, paying for all your
sins, and ask Him to save you. John 3:14-21
Maybe there is another way.
Maybe I’ll be good enough. Maybe I’ll ride into Heaven on the coattails of my
dear old saintly mother. Jesus made it clear that He is the only way. No one, I
repeat, no one will enter Heaven without putting their trust in Jesus Christ.
John 14:6
But surely God would never
send anyone to hell. I just can’t believe that God would do such a thing. Luke
12:5
We are free to have any
opinion about God we like. God is gracious. He has provided that freedom for
us. He will not force Himself upon us. For us to make an intelligent decision,
He has clearly provided all the information we need to make the right decision.
He’s left nothing out. He has told us of the glory of Heaven and the damnation
of hell. God is a gentleman, so the decision is ours. He has done all the work.
Now all we have to do is one thing; believe in His Son and be saved or not
believe and remain lost. To be saved is to receive eternal life and be adopted
into the family of God. To be lost is to be separated from God forever and suffer
with Satan in hell for eternity.
There is an old hymn called
“What Will You Do With Jesus.” The chorus asks;
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be
asking,
“What will He do with me?”
This is the only question we
will ever face in our lives that has eternal consequences if we respond
negatively. To not place our faith in Jesus to be saved is equivalent to
denying Him outright. There is no neutral ground. We are either with Him or we
are against Him. There is nothing in between. How will you respond?
At the end of the ages God
the Son, Jesus Christ, will judge all who have not accepted His free gift of
salvation. They will meet Him at the White Throne judgment. Standing before Him
will be the rich and the poor, good (humanly speaking) and bad, religious
folks, atheists, agnostics, all races, successful people (humanly speaking),
losers, rulers, slaves, etc. All will be judged and then thrown into the lake
of fire that has been reserved for the Devil and his angels. All will have been
dead wrong about Jesus Christ.
Jesus asked His disciples, “But
what about you?” … “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the
Messiah.” Mark 8:29
Peter answered correctly and
followed our Lord the rest of his life, all the way to his own cross. What is
your answer and what will you do with Jesus? Will you be standing by Jesus’
side as one of His own, or will you be standing before Him awaiting your fate
in hell (the lake of fire)?
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html