1 Peter 4:1-7 “For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”
I have long loved the actors and actresses of old, when the movies on the big screen were righteous for the most part; when right was right and wrong was still wrong; when people strived to be good to each other—kind and benevolent. Bu alas, those days and ways are now gone.
People of today are mostly only self-serving. Rare is there a kind word or a helping hand to those who are in trouble or dealing with problems. My friends, we are in a world of hurt. I have stated before that, the Word of God is inerrant in every way.
We see today that the people of the world are just like, if NOT worse, than the people back in the days of Noah (Great Flood) or Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah). And it would seem that they are never thinking or listening to anyone that speaks from the Word of God.
Instead they are ridiculing and blaspheming the Lord God. What they continue to miss, is that a day is coming when they will stand before the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and they will be required to give an accounting of their lives—every single word, every single action. Here is what I know, from the Holy Word of God, concerning that day…
In the vernacular, so to speak, I want to ask some questions, make some comments. I do know there are many people who believe nothing will happen after they pass away, yet is that what the Word of God says? No!
Does the story of Lazurus and the rich man ring a bell to you? Read it inLuke 16:19-31, it may change the way you think about your own passing away here on earth.
Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”
Wow! That my friends, is a very serious circumstance to find yourself in; yet it is the absolute truth! Does it make you want to reconsider your life? Does it make you want to change some things in your life?
As I stated in the beginning of this article, I have long loved the actors and actresses of old. So it would seem strange of me to look at their grave sites and wonder if they loved the Lord, and if they are presently in heaven or in hell. (The answer has a direct bearing on your life as well.)
First of all, everyone is going to leave this earth in the Rapture or a coffin. At some point, a person’s time here on earth is over, so the new question is, are you born-again to Jesus Christ? Are you headed to heaven or are you still a lost soul of this life here on earth and headed to hell for eternity?
If you want to stop reading here and now because what you have read is declaring your present situation, then be my guest. But in the end it will be either one way or the other. Here’s the fact; while you are still alive, you have a choice. You still have an opportunity to change where you will spend eternity.
Matthew 13:30 begins the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and as such, you have a choice of which you are, a wheat or a tare (weed). The wheat will be gathered and then placed in the barn, while the tares (weeds) will be gathered and thrown in the fire. That my friends is pretty straight forward and right out of the Holy Word of God … therefore it IS TRUTH.
The story of Lazurus and the rich man reminds me that the riches of heaven are far greater than the riches, fame and the popularity of this life here on earth. My heart begins to sink in sadness for those who are not saved to Jesus Christ.
How many people are continually burdened with enhancing their own physical beauty, fame and fortune? When in the end, without Christ, they will only reap sadness and pain. But fighting to keep money and beauty is a priority for so many.
All the while the clock keeps ticking away the hours to each person’s eventual end; many never understanding that they were never meant to live their way—they were meant to honor the Lord God!
Has it never been understood, that we are a fallen species? And if that is the true case, then why should we ever think that we know what is best for us? Again let me say, we are fallen, corrupt and filled with sins of all kinds—heading in the wrong direction, heading to destruction.
The ONLY way to change this is to accept the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation will never end, yet this life and its problems will continue as long as we live here on earth.
If God is in charge of every aspect of our lives, and we know HE is—then why do we listen to our own rationalizations? Has it never occurred to anyone that trying to be the most wealthy, the most beautiful, the most famous are goals that have been around since the beginning of mankind’s existence? In the end, where does it get anyone?
We must look at the timeline here. Life on this earth is very, very, short when we compare that time to eternity. I am not telling you anything that you don’t already know; so the question is this: Why do you not prepare ahead of time, like the old saying?: “We must save for a rainy day.”
You already know there will be sad days, bad days, times of trouble and discord. With something put away, you can do a little shopping or have a really good meal, and you’ll feel better. It is almost the exact same thing with Jesus Christ, only you’re saving for heaven—for a beautiful and happy existence.
We all have the desire to experience the most comfort, the existence of safety, the feeling of being taken care of, of being loved and pampered without any worries. Yet many never once consider where they will be after they die.
If in your life you are NOT able to know what is coming next, then wouldn’t it help you, to know someone that does?! That someone is God—Jesus Christ! You can find HIM and know HIS plan for everyone here on earth in His Holy Word the Bible. The answer to any question or problem you could ever have can be found in the Bible.
Jesus Christ does NOT want you to feel alone, He does not want you to deal with problems when you can find a solution in His Word. He wants to give you HOPE! You can NOT live without HIM! Without HIM you are simply walking around DEAD.
The lost of this world are like zombies, walking on a highway to hell. They have no true thoughts, they do NOT know how to think, they simply trudge along the wrong highway; they are already DEAD! They never see the flowers the Lord has provided for them, they have no idea of what is good and what is bad.
They simply keep walking along, doing the exact same thing, moment by moment. My friends, ignorance is NOT bliss; it is death. Satan hates you so very much that he wants to cloud your thinking, to keep you from knowing Jesus Christ. In the end, Satan and his ilk laugh as the lost head into hell and then into the lake of fire.
What is it going to take, before you realize, that Satan is doing everything he can to keep you from Jesus Christ? Is your sin worth all of the eternal pain and suffering that will come if you do not know Jesus Christ?
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
You may reach the author at: twobears44@gmail.com