HAVE YOU MADE ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS FOR ETERNITY?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.
The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, went to him and said, “This is
what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are
going to die; you will not recover.”
(2 Kings 20:1)

MEDITATION:
Mankind doesn’t like to think about death and eternity, but it is
something inevitable for everyone. Unfortunately, many will step
into eternity separated from God. Why? Because they created
their own condemnation by refusing to embrace God’s gift of
salvation.

Out of His love, grace and mercy, God has offered to every man
and woman a way to escape eternal punishment, a way to receive
salvation, and an opportunity to have hope and an anticipation of
a better world.

However, some have allowed their selfish and undisciplined attitudes
to steer them away from God’s simple method for escaping the agony
of eternal banishment. Attitudes that include man’s blindness, egotism,
stubbornness, selfishness and an unhealthy love for sinful pleasure.
None of us can blame God for our failure to grasp His salvation plan.

Let’s make an analogy.
    Suppose you were sick, went to a doctor, and he gave you a prescription.
    However, you decided to ignore his advice and refused to start taking
    the valuable medicine that would help you.

    Maybe you felt that you know more than he does, or that you don’t
    want others telling you what to do. Then, in a very short time, your
    condition becomes much worse.

    Could you blame the doctor? Could you hold him responsible? He
    gave you the prescription that was your remedy, but you refused it!
    It was your choices that caused your worsening condition. It’s all on
    you, isn’t it?

    In comparison, God has prescribed the remedy for the ills (sins) of the
    human race that has placed us on a path toward eternal misery and
    separation from Him. His remedy is a personal faith in Jesus Christ,
    and a commitment to surrender our lives to righteousness which will
    put us on a new path of eternal bliss.

    Our remedy is to be ‘born again’; to cast aside our unrighteousness
    and embrace a new life of righteousness that is under the control of
    the Lord, and not ourselves. We like to be in control, and God has
    given us the opportunity to control our choices.

    But, if we choose to deliberately refuse His free gift of salvation, then
    we must suffer the consequences of our decision and we can’t blame
    God. Is it God’s fault that we refused His remedy? It isn’t, is it? We
    will spend eternity suffering for the bad choice we made.

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Where do I stand regarding God’s salvation plan?
    – Am I allowing my selfish and undisciplined
       attitudes to prevent me from receiving His free gift?
    – How am I doing with controlling my stubbornness, my egotism,
       my selfishness and my love of sinful pleasure?
    – Have I made any efforts to develop self-control as a
       way of eliminating unrighteousness from my life?
    – Have I taken the time to understand the eternal benefits of
       surrendering my life to the Lord and accepting His will for me?

We should never allow our lack of self-discipline to cause us to suffer
eternal banishment. We will not be able to blame anyone else; it is our
choice to gain control of our attitudes (with God’s help). Why? Because
our eternal destiny depends on it. God knows the struggle we have in
relinquishing ourselves to His will and His plan for our lives.

That’s why He gives us access to the Holy Spirit to assist us with the
transformation we will experience when He sanctifies us so we will
become the people He wants us to be.

‘Sanctification’ is a ‘big word’ but it simply means that when we receive
salvation from the Lord, He will begin a process of eliminating all our
unrighteousness and filling the voids with righteousness. It begins the
moment we are ‘saved’ and culminates when we end our life journey
on this earth and go to be with Him.

Meditate on that for a moment. God knows we are incapable of
overcoming unrighteousness on our own, so He interjects Himself
into our lives (through the Holy Spirit) to do for us what we cannot
do for ourselves. That’s the kind of love our Heavenly Father has
for us!
    The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
    understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you,
    not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come
    to repentance.
    (2 Peter 3:9)

    May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through
    and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept
    blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Look at Peter’s message to those who are part of God’s family:
    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect,
    exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus,
    Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have
    been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God
    the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,
    to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his
    blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
    (1 Peter 1:1-2)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for providing a way for me to
escape eternal banishment. Help me to get control of my
attitudes and actions so I can freely accept your gift of
salvation. Forgive me for my sins and teach me how to 
give total control of my life to You. Make me aware of the
spiritual gift You have given me, and show me how You
want me to serve You from this day forward.”

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