Moreover, this is a most alarming question.
Since you do not know the extent of your life, you should be
alarmed lest it suddenly end, and you find yourself unprepared
for "the world to come." It is a clearly attested fact
in Scripture that however long a person's life may be, the close
of it in this world does not bring his existence to an end. The
soul lives on forever. Hebrews 9:27 states: "...it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgement" or 'a judgement' as it literally reads. At
death there is a judgement, in that the soul continues in
conscious existence and goes either to heaven or to hell to
await the resurrection. If you are still pursuing a life of sin
and neglect of your soul, how alarmed you should be lest death
come unexpectedly and your soul be plunged into the torments of
hell. Luke 16:22,23 -"...the rich man...died...and in
hell he lift up his eyes being in torments "
In the light of all these facts, this is an
awakening question. It is designed to awaken you to see the
need to prepare for eternity. Because you do not know how long
you have to live, and since you are at present without Christ,
how essential that you take serious steps to prepare to meet
God.
What are those steps? To begin with,
recognise that THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY OF SALVATION. Christ said:
"I am the way...no man cometh unto the Father but by
me" (John 14: 6). Understand also that THERE IS ONLY ONE
MEANS OF ENTERING UPON THAT ONE WAY OF SALVATION as Ephesians
2:8,9 make clear: "By grace are ye saved THROUGH FAITH; and
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest
any man should boast. " Clearly, then, sinners are saved
through the means of faith -Luke 18:42, "THY FAITH HATH
SAVED THEE-"
Just what is that faith that saves? Saving
faith convinces a man of his guilt and inability to save
himself. Paul declares in Romans 3: 19, 20 that
"all....become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of
the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight "
Until you realise your guilt and helplessness you can never be
saved, for Christ "...came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17). Furthermore, saving
faith believes that God has provided salvation through His Son
Whom He sent into the world. Galatians 4:4,5 -
"...God sent forth His Son...to redeem them that were under
the law " Therefore saving faith believes that Jesus of
Nazareth alone is the promised Saviour. 1 Timothy 2:5 -"For
there is one God, and ONE Mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus " But, being convinced of all these truths, saving
faith then rests on the all-sufficiency of Christ. The
Lord Jesus Christ is "...able to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by Him" (Heb. 7:25). In other words, His
sacrificial death is an all-sufficient payment for sin, fully
satisfying the holy demands of God's law.
Throughout the Gospel, sinners are urged and
commanded to trust in this all-sufficient Saviour: "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts
16:31). The one who truly believes ceases from works to obtain
salvation and RESTS WHOLE-HEARTEDLY on Christ alone,
understanding that His work on the Cross is sufficient to save.
Finally, saving faith assures all who
trust in Christ alone that all of His righteousness is applied
personally to them. Romans 4:6&7 -"Unto whom God
imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they
whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. "
This assurance can be yours if you will but "repent...and
believe the Gospel" (Mark 1 :15).
I urge you to do so today. Then, no matter how short your
time may be, you will be saved from sin, hell and the wrath to
come. Isaiah 55:6- "Seek ye the Lord while He may be
found, call ye upon Him while He is near. "
