“To be, or not to be; that is the question.” This is the famous line from Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.” Basically, the character was trying to decide if he should live or commit suicide. (all emphasis mine – all verses ESV)
To believe or not to believe does not affect only one person but every living human that is on this earth today. This is covered by one of the most recognizable Bible verses, which is John 3:16; “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” All, everyone on the face of this earth today, can have this Salvation if they will but choose it.
There is a condition to this which is found in John 3:18; “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
Later, in 1 John 5:10-12, the apostle expands on this; “Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
A couple of points here: for this to be of value, one must believe that the Bible is the true and inerrant word of the Father, passed on to us through about 40 Holy Spirit-inspired writers; and that our Heavenly Father cannot, nor will not lie for any reason (Titus 1:2; 2 Timothy 3;16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
Jesus had no illusions of what this earth would be like toward the end of this age that we are living in. In Matthew 7:13-14, He talks about the two paths; one leads to destruction, and the other to Salvation. His comments were that the pathway to destruction is wide, and many will be on it. The path to life, or Salvation, is narrow, and few will be on it. We’re seeing this quite clearly today.
John 16:33 Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Today, it’s become fashionable for the secular world to label the followers of Jesus as “haters.” We represent some conceived threat to all the alphabet groups because we don’t accept their lifestyles. False prophets are being found more and more in the pulpits of “evangelical” churches, and antichrists are causing laws to be made that “criminalize” many of our beliefs. The thing is, we do not hate anyone, just as our Savior commanded. However, we do not have to like or accept their abominations.
One thing is for certain, Satan and his forces are more active today than ever before as he knows his next to last hurrah is very close. That will be the 7-year tribulation. His final act will be at the end of the Millennial Reign of Jesus on earth when he will be cast into the lake of fire forever (Revelation 20:10).
Evil in the world today is increasing and at all levels that we have not seen before. More and more people are being drawn into the things of this earth rather than consider where they will spend eternity. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
The “new world order” is getting bolder by the day, and there’s talk of gaining more and more control of our everyday lives. This is not just in one area but involves the whole world. Cash money is on the brink of being removed, and all ability to buy or sell will be computerized. Right now, in some countries, parents face criminal prosecution for speaking out against all the gender and sexual-related issues to their children. It’s getting very close to this in America today.
Evil is abounding. There are violent episodes taking place more and more that were rare in the past. Yes, there has always been evil since the fall of humans in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), but today the incidents are gaining in volume and becoming more widespread than ever.
Isaiah 5:20, which was written about 2,700 years ago, is just about a perfect description of the radical left’s attitude today. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” Without giving the long list, the “Godlessness” actions and attitudes listed for the last days are all here as well (2 Timothy 3).
Again, the sheer volume should be shouting that Jesus will be calling all His flock up to meet Him very soon. For anyone who believes that they have plenty of time to make their decision, please consider 1 Corinthians 15:52; “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed.” Qualified mathematicians have calculated this to be considerably less than one second.
One day soon, all the true believers will hear that trumpet of God and the shout from the archangel, and we’ll be taken up to meet our Savior in the air. Those left behind will probably notice that something happened, but the full impact will not be realized until a short time later. They will be about to enter the worst period of time that this earth has ever seen or has ever experienced.
Sadly, all who remain will have chosen to be here. Now is the time to really consider that you have a choice of Salvation or Destruction. Yes, there will be those who will call out to Jesus to save them during the tribulation/wrath, but most likely, the cost of this will be martyrdom. The majority will go along with the evil leader and will voluntarily take his mark in order to be able to buy anything.
Jesus paid in full for each and every human soul on this earth, if they will have faith and believe in Him. All who confess they are sinners in need of a Savior and who believe that Savior is Jesus and call out for forgiveness will be saved (Romans 10:9-13).
All who leave this earth without Jesus as their Savior will end up in the Lake of Fire, as given in Revelation 20:11-15. There are no other options in spite of what false prophets are saying.
Therefore, the choice is up to each and every person to make. Will it be eternal Salvation with the Savior, or will it be eternal Destruction with the devil and all his demons (fallen angels)? Our Heavenly Father will force no one to receive and accept His Son but will turn no one away who truly calls on Him. No one has sinned so greatly that they cannot be covered by the gift of the shed blood of our Shepherd.
It is totally your choice, as no one can make it for you. The results of your decision will be made known very soon. We don’t know the day, hour, or even minute that the call will come, but from all the signs present, it will not be very much longer. In Luke 21:28, Jesus said when these things “begin” to happen to look up, as our redemption draws near. All the signs started just a decade or so ago and are speeding up every single day.
Today is the absolute right time to decide your eternal fate: Jesus or the world; Rapture or tribulation. In the end, nothing of this earth will be worth spending eternity in hell for.
Shalom! Come, Lord Jesus!