Good Bye or Good Night?

O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55

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Well known piece of prose but how many know that it’s biblical verse and not a piece of Shakespeare? Death is a very distressing and painful emotion that must happen to all of us at some point (Hebrews 9:27- it is appointed unto man to die but once and then the judgment)- very poignant words….the $64,000 question is: what will happen to YOU when you die? Will it be waking up to everlasting glory in the midst of other much loved Christian friends and family already passed on or will it be a final farewell and wretched dispatch to everlasting torment with weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12) in total darkness (isolation) and eternal separation from the once very accessible Loving God?

You see the part a lot of misguided philosophers put forward is correct-Yes, He is an all loving, all forgiving, all merciful God (Deuteronomy 4:31), slow to anger and quick to forgive (Jonah 4:2), BUT what they don’t tell you, an unknowingly self-destructing sinful audience (Hosea 4:6-my people perish for lack of knowledge) is that He is also a perfectly just God who has set aside a day of judgment not based upon how good you were, how many times you went to church or whether you believe in Him or followed any other “true” religion. No. It will be based solely on your relationship with His son Jesus Christ (John 14:6-No man cometh unto the father except thru me -Jesus); and whether you truly followed His teachings to the very end despite the many persecutions and temptations of this world (Galatians 6:7-do not be deceived, God is not mocked; 1 Samuel 16:7-God looks at a man’s heart). Your earthly achievements will do you no good or hold no sway in this heavenly court!!! (Isaiah 64:6-Your righteous acts are like filthy rags before me).

UNCOMFORTABLE? Good, you should be…I was. But do not despair. Our Almighty Loving God (Our Father) has provided a way out. In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His only begotten son (Jesus Christ) to suffer and then die on the cross of Calvary whilst carrying ALL our sins and infirmities. (Praise the Lord!)

By rising on the third day from the dead, Jesus paid the debt we owed (in full) due to our original sinful nature. He has bridged that enormous gap between God and us. The good news is that the sin-debt has been paid off and that anyone that believes in Jesus is SAVED. Ephesians 2:8 says that we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. Accepting Him today as your Lord and Savior no matter where you have been or what you have done places you on the right side of judgment and your name in the Lamb’s (Jesus) book of life and us sinners receiving grace and mercy; God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Mercy being us receiving what we don’t deserve (Total love and access to God’s kingdom), and NOT RECEIVING what we do deserve (eternal condemnation/punishment and separation from God). Now that’s perfect unconditional Love in action!!!

Jesus said “Behold I knock on the door (of your heart)….he who opens, I will come in and eat with him and he with me”, Revelation 3:20. All are invited to the banquet, NONE are rejected! Jesus said, “Whoever comes to me, I will in no wise way cast out (turn away)”There is only one way to God (heaven) and that is by being born again, following the footsteps and teachings of Jesus Christ the Messiah (savior). In John 3:3 Jesus says “unless a man be born again (of water and the Spirit), he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

Friend, find a proper/true Bible based church that teaches the unchanging, UNCOMPROMISING Word of God and then avoid conforming to the ways of this sinful world. Release God’s never ending forgiveness and love into your life. DO IT NOW before it becomes too late. There is no repentance in the grave; it is simply a one way ticket. Question is which way will you be going? Make the right choice.

Now will that be Goodnight or Goodbye then?

Praise the Lord!