What would you do?
Dear editor:
As I become 80 this month, I’m surprised the Lord has let me live so long. I’m not looking for death any time soon, but I know it could come in less than a moment’s notice. Hebrews 9:27 says that we all have an appointed time when we will die. I’m ready whenever the Lord wants to take me … are you?
While we carry on with our lives, the subject of death is usually not a topic for discussion among many people unless it’s in a Bible study. Genesis 3:19 reminds us that we have been created from the dust of the ground and we will become dust once more. God’s divine law of death will continue to remain in effect until Jesus returns to take up the righteous saints who have died believing in Him. Then, those faithful saints still living will be changed “in the twinkling of an eye”
(1 Corinthians 15:52), from a corruptible body to a incorruptible body, and enter into the gates of heaven (1 Thessalonians
4:16-17; Philippians 3:21).
Every man, woman and child, at the age of accountability, is on probation and must decide for themselves which road in life they will travel. Jesus said we can choose the easy wide road of worldly pleasures, but it is the direction which leads to eternal life in hell. He said the best choice is to travel the straight and narrow road that leads to life in heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). This latter road is not an easy one to travel because of the obstacles along the way (John 15:18-19).
Notice what else Hebrews 9:27 says after the announcement of our date with death: judgment will come. Some religions falsely teach that this judgment is a “second chance” to live on the earth again to correct our many mistakes; or that we will be sent to purgatory to expiate unconfessed sins; or that we will be reincarnated into another existence so we can be saved. Once death has come upon us, the probationary time will cease. A second chance exists every day we spend in this life, but purgatory and reincarnation do not exist. If they did, Jesus would have revealed them (compare John 14:2).
According to Revelation 8:1, there will be silence in heaven for half an hour before God unleashes His wrath upon sinful mankind. He will give this time so that if any will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, He will forgive them and they will become His children (John 5:24).
What if you knew you had only 30 more minutes to live — what would you do? Some answers we received are, “I would drink all the liquor I could hold,” “I would max out all my credit cards,” “I would have my way with as many women as I could.” Very few have said they would make peace with their Maker. What would you do; have you got time enough to? … Donald Cunningham Hot Springs