Life and Death In Three Days – Sunday Thought For The Day

This past week I experienced both life and death.  In the first minutes of the new day, Sunday past, the daughter of a longtime friend and professional colleague gave birth to a grandchild.  The birth actual itself was without issue, but the same could not be said in the week or so leading up to the birth.  There were potential life threatening issues for my friend’s daughter and the unborn child.  But, our prayers were answered and the baby was delivered healthy and well, even though premature.  My friend’s daughter and her husband are now proud Christian parents.

Tuesday morning shortly before sun-up, my dear friend and brother in Christ went to be with the Lord.  He had been my trusted friend, colleague, confidant and when necessary my counselor.

We had believed he was on his way to full recovery after his having received care for his illness at one of the premiere specialty clinics in the country.  But, God wanted my friend home in heaven with Him.

I will rejoice with my one friend as his grandchild grows.  Should the Lord tarry and bless us with time, I look forward to hearing the many firsts, e.g., first words, first birthday, etc., in the child’s life.  On the other hand, I will hold on to the moments that comprise the memories of time spent with my friend and brother who is now in glory.

I rejoice for my one friend and colleague, and while I rejoice with the family of my friend and brother in Christ, because he is at home with the Lord – free of the extreme suffering he endured the last days of his earthly life – I shed tears that I will no longer be able to spend time with him until I see him in heaven.

Life in and of itself is not final as such until we die.  The moment we die, we pass from  life into eternity.

In eternity, we will have no more opportunities to repent and accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  That can only be done in the here and now.  In reality, we cannot experience eternity until we die here.

In the span of three days this week I saw both ends of the spectrum of life.  That said, it grieves me deeply that I have friends some who outright reject Christ and others who play the game of fools, claiming to be saved, when in they have never prayed to receive Christ as Savior and the “Sacrifice” for their sins.

I cannot fathom how persons can spend more time planning where they will buy a household item or go on vacation, than where they will spend eternity.  Ask yourself, if you are one-hundred percent sure where you will spend eternity?  I can tell you this with complete confidence: Infant baptism is not a way to heaven, and no one can be saved without without personally accepting Christ as Savior.

Its a fact; everyone is going to experience eternity.  The question is, which one? Heaven or hell?

READ:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 8:1-17 (KJV)

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.