Choose Eternal Life
For whoever would save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(Matthew 16:25)
Prophesy tells
us we’re heading for times of terrible trouble, possibly in the very near
future. The time is coming when Christians all over the world will be required
to choose between living or dying for their faith, even in the United States.
Some will think that denying Jesus will save them, and it will for a very short
time, but their decision will condemn them for eternity. If I’m ever forced to
make that decision, I pray I will choose Jesus.
Here in the US,
the persecution has already started. Even when a radical Muslim kills innocent
people in a Western nation, somehow Christians are at fault and vilified. It will get
worse and worse as we get closer to the Lord’s return. Right now, in some parts
of the world believers are already sacrificing their mortal lives just for not
denying Christ. Even though they die a horrible death, they actually save their
immortal souls. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be made to choose between my
faith or be killed.
When I was in my 20s, I didn’t even think
about mortality. Dying was the furthest things from my thoughts. My beloved
grandfather died when I was 20, but he was 64 years old. An old man, or so I
thought then. I’m the same age as him right now and I think a lot about mortality
and eternity. It would be easy to denounce my Christ and follow the rest of the
world through the gates of hell. However, I choose, every day, to follow Jesus
and keep my focus on him and his will for my life.
This earthly
life is like a vapor, we’re here today and gone tomorrow, but our souls are
eternal. If we live a long full life, we may be on this earth for about 80 or
90 years, but eternity lasts forever. We’re going to spend eternity somewhere
and hell is not the place we want to spend it. I hope whoever reads this has
chosen to spend eternity in the splendor of heaven with Jesus. I pray that if
we’re required to choose to keep living in this world or die with Christ, we
all make the right choice. Maranatha!
Lord God in heaven, have mercy on us. We are frail and weak in spirit. When our physical comfort is challenged, we have the tendency to buckle under the pressure. Be with us in our every day lives, when we’re faced with ridicule for our trust in Jesus Christ, that we don’t shrink away from a steadfast grasp on our faith. Father, we never want to lose our place in eternity. Give us the strength to withstand the vital challenge given if we’re ordered to choose between you and our physical safety. Remind us to be in daily prayer to bolster our spiritual strength and to build our relationship with you. It is only with a strong and meaningful bond to the Lord Jesus Christ will we have and hope of making the right choice. Be with us, Lord, when we’re faced with making this choice. Put your words in our mouths, that will give proud testimony of your love and grace. Use those words to give strength and encouragement to others facing the same test of their faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!
Comments
Post a Comment