Are you prepared for eternity?

Job was sure are you

Job 14-16 Job listened and wisely reminded his friends that no one can know their appointed time of passing from this life to the next. No one knows the hour or the day of their departure to heaven or hell, but they can know their destiny. Job rightly knows that even if he dies, he will see the face of God.

Job explains that in death, we are not like the trees of the field that can spring back to life after being cut down if the circumstances are such that the seeds of reproduction which lay as if dead, spring to life. Instead, man is like a broken mountain that cannot be restored.

Job then responded to Eliphaz. You are not in my position; you have no idea what I am suffering! Instead of bringing words of sorrow, you ought to be pleading for my restoration. Why don’t you plead with God as one pleads for his neighbor? Indeed, when my time comes, I shall pass from here to eternity, and you will not see my face again.

Principle: Life is fleeting; death is certain. Once we die, we will be but a memory to others. But now, in the time of another’s suffering, may we plead to God for their healing. This is our time to encourage, not demean.

Are You Sure of Your Destiny?

luke 23 destiny2a“people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,”[Heb 9]. Our question is: are you prepared for your entry into eternity? In Luke 23, we are presented with three candidates for us to observe and determine ours.

First on our list is Barabbas, an insurrectionist and a murderer. He is incarcerated in a prison awaiting his sure sentence of death. As he sat waiting could he hear the crowd led by the religious leaders calling for his release? Did he know that his life would soon take an abrupt turn? Did he know that the religious leaders and the crowd offered an innocent man named Jesus to face the cross that was slated for him? We wonder and only in eternity will we know his thoughts, his actions before and after. Only God knows his destiny.

Second, are the two criminals who were also led with Jesus to the Golgotha hill and there nails would pierce their bones. They both heard Jesus cry out “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Yet only one would enter eternity forgiven for he cried out remember me when  you enter your kingdom. Jesus heard and promised that would be true. His forgiveness for his sins was washed away on that day.  The other would enter a Christ-less eternity. He neither feared God or man.

Your destiny is assured—either heaven or hell. If you are like Barabbas, bow the knee now for life is uncertain. If you are like the thief on the cross who railed on Jesus, think what lays ahead for you. If you are like the thief that sought forgiveness you can be assured of this promise: you will be with Christ in heaven/paradise. What is your destiny?

 

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