And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. -Hebrews 9:27.
Destination Unknown?
Man's life resembles a great "countdown".The process of growing old and dying actually begins with and goes on from birth.Everything heads for "zero hour",albeit with two unknown factors:
What is the final destination?
How far are we still from it?
What is the final destination?
Let us stay with the question of the destination for a moment: Is it really unknown? Are we so sure about that? Or do we tend to shrink back from thinking about it? This attitude is unacceptable.It is,moreover,unreasonable.None of us would board a train without knowing where it was going.And to stifle any thought about it is not courageous; it is cowardly!
As a matter of fact,some apprehension is justifiable.What happens after death? The Bible gives a one-word answer:judgment.So the moment when earth engulfs our coffin,it is not all over,for when our body returns to dust,the spirit returns to God who gave it."For then the dust will return to the earth,and the spirit will return to God who gave it." -Ecclesiastes 12:7,for His divine assessment of our life.
Our present life,even if it is merely a prelude to our soul's eternal history,has serious consequences.It is a testing-time! What use have we made of our freedom,our time,our health and our possibilities? Above all,what place did Jesus Christ take in the days and years of our existence? On this everything depends.
. . .He broke the power of death . . . -2 Timothy 1:10.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1.
How far is it to the destination?
The years,days and minutes of our life unfurl rapidly before our eyes,and the time remaining shrinks unrelentingly till none is left.How much time have we still? We do not know.This is the very reason why we should be urged to prepare for our solemn meeting with the judge to whom we must give account.He Himself encourages us;"Prepare to meet your God in judgment" -Amos 4:12.
How can this be done? By anticipating and warding off the judgment by confessing that we are sinners,and accepting His forgiveness.That is the salvation that Jesus Christ obtained for us through His work on the cross.
The believer knows no more than anyone else when his life on earth will end,but he can face death without fear,he is prepared.The judgment that awaited him beyond the grave was borne by another for him: by his Redeemer,Jesus Christ.As a result death has lost its terror for the believer.For him it is not a great calamity,but the entrance to a wonderful fuure.For him it does not mean losing all that was precious to him here,but taking possession of all the heavenly blessings that he joyfully anticipates.
Death is the doorway through which the believer passes so as to enter into endless glory,rest,peace and untroubled happiness.
Furthermore,the most important thing is to be prepared.But the question is how prepared are you? Will your kind of preparation be know as of those who will be calling out "Lord! Lord!" on that day and be rejected? (Matthew 7:21),or will it be of those whom the Lord would welcome as good and faithful servants (Matthew 25:21).Your fate is in your hands.Do the right thing today by coming to Jesus with all your sins for "He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you from all wickedness." -1 John 1:9.He also said He will never reject you if you come to Him as written in John 6:37.If only you would take this big bold step today,then you can be sure of eternal life.Do it now so you won't regret later when your time on earth runs out!