" HOW TO GET ON TARGET "

 

BANG ! "I can't believe it ! How could I have missed ?" Imagine the disappointment that you would feel if you lost a shooting competition, because you missed the final shot. You would wish that you had done something differently. Perhaps your sighting plane was slightly off the mark, or perhaps you were distracted by outside circumstances beyond your control. It really wouldn't matter, because the winner had a perfect score under the same conditions. You might wish that you could take your shot again, but no one gets a second chance. The judge will not accept any excuses. You would have lost the competition and the reward that goes with it. Friend, there is a close similarity between this scenario and losing at life.

NO SECOND CHANCES

According to the Bible, you only have one life to live, and GOD, your JUDGE, will not allow excuses or give you a second chance. "...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27) "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment." (Matthew 12:36)

MISSING THE MARK

As a shooter, you might find it interesting to know that the meaning of the word "sin" is missing the mark. According to the Bible, everyone has missed the mark of living a perfect, sinless life. "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD;" (Romans 3:23) Because of your sin, you will not be allowed to enter into Heaven when you die. "And there shall in no wise enter into it (Heaven) any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie..." (Revelation 21:27) Instead, you will be cast into the Lake of Fire where you will experience everlasting torment and separation from GOD and everyone.

AIMING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

If you are like most people, you desire to go to Heaven; however, you are aiming in the wrong direction. The Bible states, "...wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matthew 7:13) You may try to be worthy of Heaven by living a good life. This is simply an attempt to establish your own righteousness, but the Bible says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to HIS mercy HE saved us..." (Titus 3:5)

HOW TO GET ON TARGET

Would you get on target if you knew how ? The Bible teaches that you must stop looking at what you can do to earn salvation. Instead, you must by faith look at what GOD has done to give you salvation. "Look unto ME, and be ye saved, all the ends of the Earth: for I AM GOD, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:22) JESUS CHRIST, WHO was GOD in the flesh (John 1:14), lived the perfect sinless life, and died a bloody death on the cross as a substitute to pay for your sins in full. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved,...For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that HE was buried, and that HE rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:" (1st.Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4) HE is the only way to Heaven, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

GOD has promised you, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. . .For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10,13)

The Bible says that "the goodness of GOD leads thee to repentance" (Romans 2:4) If you would be willing to turn to GOD in repentance and faith, and receive CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, pray this simple prayer or one like it:

LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I believe YOU died and rose again for me. I am trusting YOU to forgive me, come into my heart and save me. Help me to live for YOU always. In JESUS' name I pray, AMEN.

Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR. The LORD JESUS said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears MY WORD, and believes on HIM that sent ME, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24).

Have you hit life's target ? Have you believed GOD's WORD ? "He that believes on the SON has everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him." (John 3:36) Don't miss the mark, receive JESUS CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR today, there is no promise to any of us for a tomorrow !

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie