[Truth 6 of 12; 5 minute read]
Our “short” life on the earth is really a “Grace Period,” where God by His “grace” gives you what you need (a Savior) and not what you deserve (death and eternal punishment). It is the only real reason we exist on this earth… to accept His grace, to repent and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, to be completely transformed by the Holy Spirit through a spiritual rebirth, born again, as a new creation in Christ,“ with redemption and salvation for born again believers and judgment for all those who are not.
Once the full number of individuals willing to receive God’s offer of forgiveness and transformation has been reached, God will permanently remove them from this creation and also remove anything less than perfect goodness (all evil) from their presence. God designed every aspect of this vast universe only for the eradication of evil, separating the “wheat from the chaff,” those who accept his “grace” and those who do not. Woe (judgment) is coming for evil in our world, those who reject the saving name of Jesus. This is God’s justice for sin. (Source: Romans 8:18-25; Revelation 20-22)
By His grace, God gives you what you need (a Savior) and not what you deserve (death and eternal punishment).
“The Lord (does not delay) and is not slack (slow) concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering (extraordinarily patient) toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV; emphasis added)
Here are the most important questions in your life: Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? How should I live? Where am I going? How do I get there? The answers to each of these questions depend on the existence of God, (not a god, but the God). If God exists, then there’s ultimate meaning and purpose to your life. If there’s a real purpose in your life, then there’s a real right and wrong way to live it. The choice you make now not only affects you here but will affect you in eternity. On the other hand, if there is no God, then your life ultimately means nothing. Since there is no enduring purpose to life, there’s no right or wrong way to live it. And it doesn’t matter how you live or what your believe- your destiny is just dust. (adapted from I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. – Turek & Geisler; emphasis added)
This short life on Earth is not all there is. After death, everyone will spend eternity either in a place where God is or a place where God is not.
The “Truth“ is that your eternal destination and the punishment that goes with it had already been determined the moment you were born into the curse of Adam’s sin and the only way that can be changed is for you to be set free from that penalty of sin. The price of sin has already been paid for you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no work you can do or have to do to attain this freedom. God Himself paid the ransom for you through His only begotten Son. Jesus was your sinless substitute just as God had promised. He willfully took your place on that cross. He died so you wouldn’t have to.
So the first and most important purpose of this life is for every living person to change their eternal destiny from the condemnation of Hell to the reward of Heaven, only by through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, making you right and acceptable to God, and to be transformed by the Holy Spirit through a spiritual rebirth, born again, as a new creation in Christ.
What Jesus did for you almost 2000 years ago is the one way, the only way by which your eternal destiny can be changed. Sin, not God, sends you to Hell, but the forgiveness of that penalty of sin comes only from God by faith in His Son. Nobody has to go to Hell, but too many will only because they reject or are ignorant, without excuse, of what Christ did for all.
And He did this for only one reason…
His love for you!
In fact, between the time you are born and the time you die… and we all will die, accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is the only decision you absolutely must make in your limited time on this earth.
Because forever is a long, long time to be wrong!
The second purpose of life is called sanctification which begins immediately after you have been “born again” and is a life-long process of growth as a Christian by obedience to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the process of working out your salvation every day and becoming holy and more like Jesus in everything you think and say and do!
When you become a Christian, you change… through your thoughts and actions; what you think, say and do. Your old sinful self has passed away, crucified with Christ on the cross and “behold,” you are a new creation in Christ! You simply cannot be the same person you’ve always been after you have been “born again.” Your behavior as a Christian is guided only by these standards: Is it Christ-like or is it not? and does it please God or does it not? “If it not” Christ-like and doesn’t please God and you say it or do it anyway, you must understand his wrath and rightful judgment.
Repentance means to change your mind about sin; to turn away from your sinful lifestyle and turn toward Jesus in faith, accepting Him as your Savior and making Him the Lord and Master of your life. There must be a great sense of urgency for all to come to salvation because we really don’t have much time. Our earthly life is like a mist or vapor and time passes quickly with no time-outs or do-overs. It is not to be doubted that the duration of this life is “but a moment in time and that the state of death is eternal.” We are not guaranteed another day of life, not another breath, not one more heartbeat and we don’t know when Christ will return for what will be “the end of the beginning.”
Many spend their entire “Grace Period” trying to get every material thing and earthly pleasure they could ever desire, yet fail to do the one thing, the only thing that they absolutely must do, for their eternal destiny in Heaven.
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world (with all its pleasures), and loses his own soul (for eternity)?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV; emphasis added)
Whatever is the object for which men forsake Christ, that is the price at which Satan buys their souls. Yet one soul is worth more than all the world. (From Matthew Henry Commentary)
The “object” is not worth the eternal “price.“
Don’t live here and leave here without salvation. Too many people do and they are without excuse and without hope. They had “only one thing to do” in this life, in the “Grace Period” and failed spectacularly.
Get into God’s Word so the Holy Spirit can use it to lead you to repentance and faith in Christ. Live the rest of your earthly life for the One who died for you. Find ways to tell others the reason for the joy and hope you have and tell them they can have it, too through Jesus.
(Most recent fine tuning: October, 2024)
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