Suomeksi

Life is Short

Truth: "…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23)

Life is short, death is certain and eternity is very, very long. We came into the world with nothing, and we cannot take anything out with us when we leave. People seem to be preparing for life here on earth as though they will live here forever. Too often we prepare only a little or not at all for life beyond the grave. Death is not a leap into the dark unknown. In the Bible God has told us everything we need to know about death. Everyone will live somewhere forever. Every time a loved one is taken, we are reminded that our turn is coming, too. You cannot avoid death, but you can prepare for it.

There is a day of judgment. “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Heb 9:27). Some people may face death itself bravely, but the judgment afterwards is what worries us. The devil has a thousand ways to keep us from worrying about these things, but we must face the facts about death and eternity while there is still time. God’s final judgment is unavoidable. Most people die unprepared to stand before God. Jesus urged the Pharisees to repent so they would not die in their sins. He meant that if they died without repenting they would be held completely responsible for their sins when they faced the Almighty Judge. This is not a comforting thought, because God judges people according to His perfect righteousness. Even one sin makes man unfit to enter heaven.

Man needs a Savior. The wages of sin is death. All of us have sinned against God. All of us are guilty. But Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on our behalf. Jesus’ death is the only way for us to be saved. Only death can pay for sin. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.

Are you worried at the thought of dying? Then turn to the One who will raise the dead. Jesus showed His power to raise the dead when He was on earth and He rose from the dead Himself. He was the only one who could honestly say: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will
never die” (John 11:25-26). When a person truly believes in Jesus Christ, he is given life that will never end, even though his body will die. Physical death is when the soul separates from the body. Spiritual death is eternal separation from God. Jesus said: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).

Would you be surprised to know that the day and hour of your death is already firmly fixed? It is. God knows it. We don’t. We cannot add even one minute to the length of our lives. The moment of your death is drawing closer all the time. You can force this out of your mind, but it won’t help. Your time is drawing closer continuously.

There is a way to prepare for death: repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the giver of eternal life. If somebody showed you how you could be absolutely certain to have victory over death, but it required something very hard to do, would you do it? Most people would pay any price to be sure of a place in heaven. How much more should we be willing to take God's Word seriously!

God sacrificed His only Son, who died in our place, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. Only the One who conquered death and lives forever can assure us of eternal life. “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...? (Heb 2:3).

You might say that you are not afraid to die. We will see. The moment of death is the moment of truth. I have been on the battlefield and seen men with terror in their eyes. You cannot live without God and die in peace. Someday, maybe sooner than you expect, you are going to leave this world behind and all your hard earned possessions with it. If you wait until you die to see what happens it will be too late. Make certain you prepare now to prepare for the future while you still can. Nobody else can do this for you. You must act. Only those who trust in Christ can die in peace.

If you want your sins forgiven, God promises in His Word: “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Pastor Tom Ruhkala