Your Eternity...
It Matters!
If you have not given any consideration as to your eternal destiny.
This is your WAKE UP call!
First, the basics.
- All of mankind is under a curse.
- This means everyone...You and Me.
- This curse originated with our first parents, Adam and Eve. When they disobeyed God, in the Garden of Eden, they fell from the perfected state they were created in. (Genesis 3:1-7)
...the basics.
- As a result, the personal relationship between man and God was severed. God, due to his holy nature, cannot tolerate any sin in his presence.
- Man (Adam and Eve) were removed from the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:23,24)
- God pronounced judgment against them and the serpent (Satan). Death for man, defeat and destruction for the serpent. (Genesis 3:14-19)
...the basics.
- Have you ever wondered why we are capable of evil?
- It is because of the sinful rebellious nature that has been passed down to us from Adam. (Romans 5:12)
- As soon as we come into the world, we are born into a sin nature. (Psalm 51:5)
What does all this mean for me?
- DEATH...
- Not just physical death, but also spiritual death. "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23, KJV)
- ...HELL (Revelation 20:12-15)
But I'm a pretty good person. I'm better than someone like... Hitler!
- If you go by human standards, then yes some people are worse than others.
- But it is not by a human standard we will be judged. It is the standard of an almighty God who cannot tolerate any sin in His holy presence.
So you think you're a good person.
- God has set forth his standard in the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:1-17)
- How do you think you've done with regards to them?
- "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". (Exodus 20:16, KJV)
- Have you ever told a lie?
- "Thou shalt not steal". (Exodus 20:15, KJV)
- Have you ever taken something that wasn't yours? Regardless, of your age, the size, or value of the item?
- "Thou shalt not commit adultery". (Exodus 20:14, KJV)
- Christ in Matthew 5:28 tells us that if we even look upon another with lust, we have already committed adultery in our hearts.
- "Thou shalt not kill". (Exodus 20:13, KJV)
- Easy right? 1 John 3:15 tells us that anyone that hates his brother is a murderer and he does not have eternal life.
- James, the brother of Christ who was also the leader of the Jerusalem Church, writes in his epistle, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all". (James 2:10, KJV)
- So, to break just one commandment means we have broken them all.
But isn't God love? I think He will forgive me.
- God is love. But He is also just. Which means He must punish evil.
- Also, remember God cannot tolerate sin in his presence.
- God himself is perfection and sin is imperfection. If we remain with any sin he cannot have any part of us.
But what about all the good things I've done?
- The prophet Isaiah had this to say, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags". (Isaiah 64:6, KJV)
- The apostle Paul reiterates this point in Romans 3:10-12, where he states there is none righteous, no one seeks God, and there is none that does good.
- Remember, its God's standards, not our own.
How can anybody be saved going by those standards?
- How indeed?
- After all, the apostle John tells us, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8, KJV)
- Whore mongers = adulterers, idolaters = anything that is put in place of God. Such as money, possessions, people, ideas, etc.
- Sounds bleak, huh?
Here's the good news!
- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved". (John 3:16,17, KJV)
- "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, KJV)
So what does that mean?
- It means that God loved his creation so much, he put on human flesh and came to Earth to live a perfect sinless life in the form of Jesus Christ.
- He loved us so much, he took upon himself the sin debt that was charged to you, me, and the rest of the world.
- He loved us so much, he took the punishment and suffering rightly assigned to us. Was hung upon a cross where he died, accursed and separated from God the Father. Was buried in a tomb then resurrected on the third day. All so that we might regain what was lost with Adam. A loving and restored relationship with him for eternity.
So what do I do now?
- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved". (Romans 10:9, KJV)
- In other words... with sincerity, come to the realization that you are a sinner. Confess it to God and ask his forgiveness. Pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life. Ask Him to help you turn from your sin and to lead you in a righteous path through the Holy Spirit.
- Find a local body (church) of believers that hold to the inerrable and infallible Word of God (Bible). One that preaches Christ crucified for the remission of sins. Believes in salvation by grace, through faith in the shed blood of Christ and not by the performance of any deeds, works, or rituals and join with them.
- At the soonest opportunity, seek water baptism as this was an ordinance instituted by the Lord.
- Procure a Bible and try to make a habit of reading it daily.
- Talk to the Lord in prayer throughout the day. Tell Him your thoughts and feelings, ask Him for His help and guidance regarding your life.