" Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. " Proverbs 27:1
Many people live their lives as if they have " all the time in the world ". Some of these people we call procrastinators and they will continue to put off things until they have no more time to do the project and then they run around like a chicken with their heads cut off trying to get it done.
I find myself in this category at times, especially when it comes to dusting. Ladies I don't know about you but dusting just seems to be one of those senseless things that we do and the moment something is dusted, you turn around and the dust is falling right back in its place. The dusting in our home does not get done nearly enough and I will be the first to admit it.
Not dusting on a regular basis does not have eternal ramifications but putting off one's eternal destiny does. I have come across many people who say, " When I am old then I will worry about GOD. " Or they say that " religion " is for old people.
The city I live in is close in proximity to another city and combined they have more than 1/2 a million people.
Everyday at least one person is reported dead from one reason or another; and I am absolutely positive that none of them knew it would be their last few hours on earth. Now understand, these are the ones that are reported, usually because it is a violent death attributed to a horrible auto accident, gun violence, domestic violence, house fires, drownings and the like. Local news only has a certain amount of time to give to these deaths and from what I found out there are many deaths that are never reported on air.
What I am getting at is we may not have the time to put off where we are going to spend eternity. When GOD created man in Genesis 1:27a HE said, " Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness,". This means that just as GOD has three distinct persons : GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT in ONE GOD; we as humans have three distinct parts : first is soul, second is spirit and the third is our body.
When man was first created, Adam and Eve had open and unrestricted fellowship with GOD and they would walk and talk with HIM in the cool of the day per Genesis 3:8. But when Adam chose to sin and eat of the forbidden fruit that unrestricted fellowship with GOD was broken and Adam's sin plunged the whole human race into a downward spiral spiritually and physically. Before the fall of Adam, man was made to live forever in full and complete fellowship with the GOD that created them. But then ........
Sin happened and all that changed. Adam and Eve no longer walked with GOD but were tossed out of the Garden of Eden so that they would not eat of the tree of life. Sin fell to every human that was ever created, in which GOD gave a soul. To the baby in the womb whether they were born or died before birth, sin fell to everyone. But GOD knew we would. HE knew and HE prepared for it before the foundation of the world.
You see, GOD created time for us, but HE HIMSELF is not restricted by nor does HE see time by the day. HE sees all of time, that HE created for us, all at once. When HE reviews history and the present and the future, HE sees it all at once, kind of like a panoramic view. HE sees Adam at one end and HE sees our day as it progresses and HE can also see the Great White Throne Judgement of man as it is happening in our future. This is why nothing can surprise HIM, HE knows it all before it even happens.
So before one piece of sand was created, GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT planned our redemption in full, without any contingency plans nor plan B's. There was one way made for everyone, whether rich or poor, whether educated or not, whether young or old because everyone is a sinner. We are not sinners because we sin but we sin because we are born sinners. Look at a very young child; ask him or her if they broke their toys and what answer do you get ? That's right they will tell you NO to your face. You don't have to teach a child how to lie because they were born with a sin nature and SO WERE YOU.
GOD's plan of Salvation is not a suggestion of what you might do to go to Heaven; it is the only way that one can go to Heaven. In HIS love and mercy HE sent HIS only SON to earth, born of a virgin, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. JESUS lived a sinless life " and JESUS increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with GOD and men. " Luke 2:52 JESUS was 100% GOD but also 100% man. HE physically had a body but since it was NOT of Adam's line as far a being part of the sin cursed line, HE was without sin and could not sin because HE was also 100% GOD and GOD cannot sin; it is not in HIS nature.
JESUS was born for one thing and one thing only; to come and die and be raised from the dead to pay your sin debt and mine. While HE was here HE healed people and raised people from the dead. HE gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and healed all kinds of diseases, BUT that was not what HE mainly came for. SIN is what brought our SAVIOR here to pay the price for our sin and sin does have a cost, " for the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of GOD is Eternal life through CHRIST JESUS our LORD. " Romans 6:23
So what does this have to do with " TOMORROW " ? " For HE says: ' In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of Salvation I have helped you.' Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the DAY of SALVATION. " You are not promised any more time than the moment you are in. Remember above I said that there was at least one violent death each day, and that is what is reported in my area. Multiply that 1000's of time each day and in 1000's of cities and in 100's of countries. The average age of those who die quickly and violently is relatively young, in their 20's and 30's, but children and young people drown or are killed in car accidents. Not even they are promised more than the moment they are living in..........
If you are reading this now, it is not a coincidence. GOD is trying to get your attention, NOW. Don't put it off, you may not have tomorrow. GOD planned our Salvation before any of us were ever created. HE was ready and in HIS grace and mercy HE saved us by the death, burial and resurrection from the dead of HIS only SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST. As a sinner we have no way of saving ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 state, " For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast."
We are sinners and cannot save ourselves. We cannot work to save ourselves. We cannot join a church to save ourselves. We cannot be cleansed from our sin through baptism or communion or any other work of man. JESUS paid our debt in full and in JESUS we must believe.........
" For GOD so loved the world ( us ) that HE gave ( free gift ) HIS only begotten SON (a costly perfect gift ) that whosoever ( anyone ) believes on HIM shall not perish ( no eternity in hell ) but have everlasting life ( with HIM in Heaven ). " John 3:16
TOMORROW has NOT been promised to you or to me and we go about each day not knowing if we will walk through the door of our homes at the end of the day. " Come now, you who say, ' Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is you life ? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:13-14
Romans 10:9-14 says, " That if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on HIM will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon HIM. For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."
TODAY, THIS MOMENT IS ALL YOU HAVE !!! If you would like to be saved this moment, earnestly, by faith pray this simple prayer or one like it:
Dear GOD, I know that I am a sinner. I have sinned against you and cannot do anything to save myself. I ask you to forgive me of my sin and I believe that you sent JESUS to die and you raised HIM from the dead to pay the price for my sin. I ask JESUS to come into my heart and save me and help me to live for you always. In JESUS's name I pray,
AMEN
If after reading this blog you have made a decision for CHRIST or still have lingering questions, please let me know. For TODAY IS STILL THE DAY OF SALVATION !!!
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
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