What If It Ended Today?

Friend, have you ever thought about eternity? Where will you go after life here on earth? This life with all the adventures we experience, friendships we enjoy, and memories we make, will one day be over. And no one knows when that will happen. In fact, it could happen today. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). My friend, there are three questions you need to ask yourself and honestly think about, because one day this life will be over. Who is God?If we are honest, everyone knows that God is real. This intricately-designed universe we live in was spoken into being by God himself. The existence of logic, intelligence, and even freedom show that there is a God. God made us with an internal sense of morality because God is just. That is why we feel guilt. When God created us, he made us with an awareness of our sin. The Bible says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them…. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” (Romans 1:19, 2:15). This God that made everything in the universe knows all about you, and he cares about you—God loves you! Now there is a second question you must ask yourself. What would you say to God?God made us with a conscience that not only convinces us of his existence, but also condemns us of our sin. In fact, the Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). You may say, “I’m not perfect, but I have never committed horrible sins like murdering someone or cheating on my spouse.” Christ said in the New Testament that hatred for someone is like murdering them in your heart (Matthew 5:22). He also said “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). You see, we are all corrupt to the core, and that is where sin begins. Every one of us is guilty. Because God is holy, he cannot tolerate sin. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). This separation from God is called death. The Bible is clear that “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This means that after we die, we have no hope of going to live with God in heaven. Instead, we must spend forever in hell because we are not worthy to be in God’s presence. Imagine that you were to die right now, in this moment. If you stood before the God of heaven, and he asked you—“Why should I let you into heaven?”—what would you say to God? You see, we must admit we cannot get to heaven on our own, and that is why Jesus came. Jesus Christ was completely God and completely man who came to make a way for us to know God. Jesus was the only person to ever live who was completely obedient to every part of God’s law. And as an innocent man, he suffered a cruel death on the cross to endure separation from God so that we do not have to. The Bible explains, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We could never be righteous before God on our own. But Jesus Christ died in our place, paid our sin debt, and rose from the dead to offer us his righteousness. So how do we become righteous before God? The Bible says, “For with the heart man believeth 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 10:10,13). First you must believe that you cannot get to heaven on your own because of your sin, but that Christ died in your place. Then you must confess with your mouth through prayer and ask God to save you from your sin through Christ’s death on the cross. God says that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, he saves us from our sin. You can call upon God right now! If you have already trusted in Christ to save you from your sin, then this next question is for you. Who are you telling about God?The good news of Christ buying us back from sin is called the gospel, and it the greatest thing you could ever tell someone. It is honestly why I handed you this tract today, because I want you to hear about how you can come to know God. And if you already know him, it is why you are here on earth—to tell people the gospel. If you are saved, there is coming a day when you and I will stand before God’s judgment seat, and Christ will ask us what we did with the gospel. All over this world there are people who do not know God or are just hurting, and Jesus is the answer! Jesus gave his disciples this final command before ascended back to heaven: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). We have the responsibility to tell people about the only way to God, which is through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross. But Christ’s command does not stop with leading a person to the Lord. We must teach people from all nations to follow God’s commands, including God’s command to teach all nations. While we have this gift of life, we ought to be intentionally following Christ and causing others to follow Christ as well. Find someone to invest in, even over a cup of coffee, for the sake of encouraging them to follow God better. And in all you do, make much of Jesus! “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).