The Choice Is Yours
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.” -- Luke 21:8
Today at 5 p.m. central time the world will come to an end. At least that’s what some would have us to believe. It could be true. I don’t know. No one knows except God. That’s what the Bible says and I believe it.
Harold Camping first predicted the Rapture back in 1994. He was wrong. Obviously. A file photo shows him holding a Bible. I wonder if he has ever truly read it. The entire situation is sad because some people are caught up in his lies and misinformation. And it’s sad because others are using his comments to ridicule Christianity. Neither furthers God’s Kingdom.
Respected preachers and authors have weighed in. Cautiously. Because, again, no one knows for sure when Jesus will return. Many jokes have made the rounds. News anchors say they’ll see us Sunday -- if we’re all still here. Chuckles abound. But there’s nothing funny about the end. There’s nothing comical about lost souls.
That’s what we’re talking about here. We like to pretend that it doesn’t matter, that we’ll slide on in, that we’ll take our chances and be just fine. Not so. Believers will one day spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. Nonbelievers will spend eternity in hell. Really. Truly.
Regardless of when Jesus returns, we don’t know the answer to another very important question. We don’t know when our last moment on this earth will be. Forget about everybody else. You don’t know when you’re going to die. People die in accidents. People die from heart attacks. People die from illnesses. And on and on. Don’t assume you’ll live to be a ripe old age and that you have plenty of time to get things right with God.
If you’ve never read the Bible for yourself, read it. There are many easy-to-understand translations available to read or listen to. Talk to someone you respect. Ask questions. Talk to God. Then listen to what He says. Jesus is offering you the gift of salvation. The choice to accept it belongs to you.
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