Living in the Light of Eternity

When people take out a loan to buy a house, there are consequences for those who are late or miss payments.  Late payments affects credit ratings and adds fees.  If a "homeowner" ceases to make payments on their home (which the bank still owns!), they can be evicted from the property.  After I bought my first home in the States, it turned out that the previous tenant had accrued much debt.  My neighbor told me he saw several of her cars impounded, and for a while we received calls from a collection agency because she had missed payments on her furniture.  If we put ourselves in debt by overspending and are unable to pay, those whom we owe have the legal right to repossess our cars, homes, and even take the bed out from under us.

All people are born with a debt of sin that looms larger by the day.  Like a balloon payment at the end of a mortgage, the day will come for everyone to settle accounts with the Judge and Creator of all things.  God has provided the 10 Commandments and His Word so we might be see ourselves in the light of His truth:  we are all sinners, and the wages of sin is death.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission, no forgiveness of sins.  If I were to die in my sins and be judged according to God's perfect Law, the only way I could settle accounts with God would be with my own blood.  I would be bound hand and foot, my body and soul repossessed, and be thrown into hell - where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched.  It is a place of outer darkness, regret, and unspeakable torment for eternity.  That's the consequence of sin, and it's absolutely heartbreaking.

Hear how Whitefield preached, and never dare to be lethargic again.  Winter says of him that "sometimes he exceedingly wept, and was frequently so overcome, that for a few seconds you would suspect he never would recover; and when he did, nature required some little time to compose himself.  I hardly ever knew him go through a sermon without weeping more or less.  His voice was often interrupted by his affections; and I have heard him say in the pulpit,  'You blame me for weeping; but how can I help it, when you will not weep for yourself, although your own immortal souls are on the verge of destruction, and, for aught I know, you are hearing your last sermon, and may never more have an opportunity to have Christ offered to you?' (Lectures to My Students, Spurgeon, pg. 307)

People will do anything to save their own skins.  But most give little if any thought to the condition of their souls.  Jesus asked, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"  Money, fame, power, or political clout will not save you on the day when you stand before the Great White Throne of Judgment.  It is not the throne which is intimidating, but the face and mighty power of the One who sits upon it before whom the earth and heavens will flee.  Death comes unexpectedly, and the wise prepare for it.  I am not referring to funeral plans, insurance, or buying a plot for your remains:  I speak about the soul, the eternal, immaterial, and real you who lives in your body. Through the Gospel, all people are invited to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour, allowing God to possess you heart, mind, body, and soul.  On the Day of Judgment no Christian will face God's wrath, because Jesus has paid the fine we owed.  Because He did for our sins, we are partakers of His life which continues for eternity.

Think of it!  Standing naked with empty hands before the Creator and Just Judge, God Almighty - without a solicitor, lawyer, money, or recourse - what would you say after countless charges are laid before you, each carrying the sentence of eternal death?  What could you say?  What could you do?  When a man dies in his sins and is bound hand and foot by angels powerful enough to kill every human being on earth in a day, how could he fight against them?  Can a man fight against God?  Man can fight, scream, curse, and blaspheme, but that will not change the righteous rulings of God.  It gives God no pleasure to mete out justice to man for his sin.  It is God's will that none should perish and that all come to repentance.  He has made a way for all to be saved through repentance and faith in Christ.  There is one way to heaven, and Jesus is the Way.  God has revealed this all beforehand so all men are accountable.

Jesus says in John 3:16-20, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."  Are you walking in the Light?  Jesus is the Light of the World, come to seek and save the lost.  When God shines the light upon you, allow yourself to be exposed.  Don't run from the truth.  Don't try to hide the reality of your sin.  Repent and be born again today.  Jesus is your only Hope.