“You saw me before I was born.  The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began. ”                                      Psalm 139:16 (GNB)

“This is Sheila at On Star.  We have received notification that airbags have deployed within this vehicle.  Is anyone injured?”  Thankfully neither I nor the driver of the other car was injured.  I received a small bruise on one arm from the airbag deploying; the other driver had no injuries.   I looked at my watch; it was 9:03 AM.  I looked at the car that I had been driving; it was totaled.  As the police were arriving, I thanked the Lord again for His protection.

This day did not start off the way I had planned.  And the day could have been over for me before it really got going.  Am I lucky?  Not hardly!  Since the Lord has ordained my days, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to me when something like this happens and I survive.  Even as the Lord has numbered the hairs on my head, He has numbered the days of my life on this earth and away from my true home.  The Lord has numbered your days as well and only He knows for sure when the last one of them will be.

With that thought in mind, I ask you to consider the following two questions.  Please know that they are asked with love and concern for what may be.  I ask the questions because I have learned from the Lord to never take these things for granted.

First, where will you spend eternity?  Will you be in heaven?  Or hell?  Please take time now to truly consider this question then consider what is written next.  If your answer to the question is, “Yes.”, what is the basis for your faith, your belief, that you will go to heaven?  Church membership?  Baptism?  “Walking and aisle”?  While these “works” may be evidence of faith, they are not definitive proof that you have eternal life and will be in heaven.  There is only one foundation for faith leading to eternal life: the Lord Jesus who died “once for all” for sin: yours and mine (Heb. 7:27, 10:10, 1Peter 3:18). Have you truly committed to Him by submitting to Him?

If you’re answer to my first question is, “No.”, then let today be the day you know you will be in heaven.  Begin by agreeing with God regarding what He has said about you.  You are a sinner, deserving of His Judgment (Romans 3:23, 6:23a).  Then believe what God has said about Himself.  “For God so loved the World [you] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV [emphasis mine]).  Jesus died for your sin that you might be forgiven by God.  Jesus rose from the dead, in part, to prove the offer of forgiveness made available by His death on the Cross is real.  Finally trust God’s promises, made to you, regarding forgiveness and eternal life.  In contrition turn to the Lord Jesus asking for forgiveness and for Him to take charge of your life, to be your Lord, knowing that all who do so will be forgiven, will be saved from the danger of judgment, and will receive eternal life (Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 6:23b, et al).

If you considered this question and were unsure that you have eternal life and will go to heaven, the truth is that it is likely you do not have eternal life.  Scripture states very clearly that those who know Jesus, who have received Him as Lord, have an assurance regarding salvation and eternal life that comes from the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-16).  Likewise, the Apostle John testifies to the source and requirement for eternal life in both his Gospel and his first letter (John 3:16-18, 1 John 5:11-13).  You have the opportunity to change your destiny today by receiving Jesus as Your Lord.

Finally, with regard to the question of eternal life and heaven, please remember that Scripture states very clearly throughout that true faith in and reliance on the finished work of Christ is the only way to receive eternal life.  Jesus said it.  The Apostles testified to it.  And both Scripture and your own logic testify to this truth (Gal 2:21).  If you are relying on anything other than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which is the finished work of God for your salvation, Cindy and I pray that the Holy Spirit will use what is written here to bring you to Christ.

The second question is this.  Are you using your days wisely?  Solomon said there is a season for every purpose.  His conclusion, however, was that there is one purpose that transcends all our seasons.  Throughout our life we are to worship God, revere God, and be obedient to God (Ecc 12:13).  Doing so brings fulfillment and completeness to our lives.  The Apostle Paul shared how we can achieve this purpose when he wrote, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).  In context this verse speaks to sacrificial self-control in your life that the light and example of Christ in you may shine forth.  The purpose?  Encouraging the lost to saving faith and encouraging Christians in spiritual growth (1 Cor 10:23-33).  If such a sacrifice in our own life for the benefit of others is fueled by the proper motive, God’s love in us, He will be glorified.

So I want to encourage you to use your days wisely.  Let everything you do be an extension of your worship of and obedience to the Most High God.  In other words, let it be done out of love for God and others.  In the process of sacrifice in your life that others might gain, you will worship God, you will revere God, and you will find that the Lord Himself has brought fulfillment to your life: making you complete in Him.

Please consider the things above in light of your mortality.  Because when your last day is done only two things will matter.

Is Jesus your Lord?. . .and. . .Did you live your life for His Glory?