Summer is the season that many look forward to through the long cold nights of winter. We all appreciate the benefits summer brings. There are longer evenings to enjoy the outdoors and maybe yard barbecues with friends and family. Oftentimes vacations are enjoyed away from home but all too soon, summer ends and the daily routine of life returns.
As summer is a season and does not last very long, I am reminded that our lives on earth are only for a limited time. Time ends and then eternity. The soul that lives in this mortal body will enter eternity. The seasons of earth are left behind and we go out of time to meet God. The Bible is the authoritative Word of God and in it we find that death is not the end of existence. We learn too that there is no coming back to redo life or make amends for things we have done wrong. The Bible states that “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
The judgment of God is unflinching in righteousness and is the standard that will be applied to our lives. Mercifully His Word informs us of our condition before Him - “As it is written, ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they are together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10-12, the Bible). Again, “... there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22,23). If we die in our sins, for us it will mean eternal punishment and banishment from God’s goodness forever. The only alternative to heaven is hell. These truths describe our human problem of personal sin.
God in love has not only told us of our need, but He has done something about it. He sent His only Son to die in our place. God also raised Him from the dead and took Him to heaven. This is the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus, to die for our sins on the cross], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). To be right with God and live forever with Him, I must acknowledge that I have sinned (personally against God) and I need the risen Saviour (Jesus Christ) to save me from my sins. Trusting Him (Jesus) as my Saviour, I am made right with God and will live forever with Him in the peace and joy of heaven.
I pray you will turn from your sin and trust the Saviour, Jesus Christ, to put away all your sins from before God. Then when you die, you will be with God in heaven and enjoy Him forever.
- written by William Skates
All Bible quotations are taken from the New King James Version.