A
S WE DROVE our brand-new car
The LAST
While not knowing when we will die
off the sales lot, my husband said,
is a good reason not to wait until the last
“Well, you’re now driving a used
minute to become a believer, there is an
car.”
MINUTE or
even better one. That is the joy and secu-
“Used?” I protested. “It only has six
rity of knowing Jesus is with us, even in
miles on it!”
the worst times, ready to strengthen us
“Once you take possession, it’s a used
RIGHT NOW?
with His love and peace.
car,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it has
Christians often wonder how non-
six miles or sixty thousand miles on the
believers get through the tough times—
odometer, it’s still used.”
by Betty Steele Everett
like losing a loved one, being laid off
“But a car with only six miles is worth
from work, or finding out they have a
more,” I argued.
deadly disease. On the other hand,
“Sure, if there’s nothing wrong with it.”
hour, and the minute of our death, wait- believers know that no matter how dark
It made me think about heaven. I’ve
ing until the last minute might work . . . and hopeless things seem, they have a
been a Christian for more than a half cen-
but would our acceptance of Christ then Helper standing by whom they can con-
tury. Doesn’t that make me worth more
be genuine? tact in prayer any hour of the day or
to the Lord than someone who is a newer
We are not born with a death date tat- night.
Christian?
tooed on our forehead. Only God knows The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks,
I knew the answer—a resounding
when our soul will be required of us. “What is the chief aim of man?” The
“No!” The thief on the cross became a
Some people leave home in the morn- answer: “To glorify God, and enjoy Him
Christian only minutes before he died.
ing strong, well, and happy, only to die forever.”
But it was enough to make him as valu-
in a sudden accident or health failure. That is exactly what the life of the
able in heaven as those who had accepted
Other people linger in a coma for months longtime Christian does—brings God
Jesus two or three years before.
or years, unable to know anything or do glory while having the security of eternal
If the most recent Christian is as valu-
anything for themselves. Still others slip life. It makes a right-now faith better than
able to the Lord as one who has followed
into dementia, and don’t even recognize at-the-last-minute in every way.
Him for decades, why worry about accept-
their families. Outside of a miracle, they
ing Christ until it’s time to die? If we
cannot accept Jesus in their last hours, Betty Steele Everett writes and drives from
knew in advance the year, the day, the
and no one can do it for them. Defiance, Ohio.
THE
Acknowledge you have sinned
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
KEYS TO
(1 John 1:8).* “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
ETERNAL
Believe in Jesus
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “For God so
LIFE
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
CHRIST PAID for our Confess and renounce your sin
salvation with His death
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that
on the cross, but for us
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “If we confess
to accept this gift is as our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
simple as using these
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
keys to unlock the door: *Scriptures are from the New International Version.
EVANGEL • MAY 2009 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39