Consider The “Obituaries"
T
he next time you are in town or sit by your television set, take a casual statistics of the number of posters , announcing the death of love ones who have once lived in this temporal world, but are now gone on ahead to eternity. Some of these posters look sympathetic, but not even an experienced sympathizer can ever change the destiny of the departed soul. The truth of the matter is that, no matter how well attended, decorated, organized or simple a dead person's funeral ceremony, poster, billboard or even casket may look like, they have virtually no effect on the fate of the departed soul. Bible says: "It is appointed unto men to die once, and after death, judgment"; (Hebrews 9:27). A man’s works shall follow him unto judgment; (Revelation 14:13). Read the obituaries and you will be surprised that everybody who dies, they say, is going to Heaven. On the contrary, the Bible says that not everyone who talks about Heaven is going there; (Matthew 7:21-23 ), even those who are making preparations to go there will not take it on a bed of roses; (1st Peter 4:17-18, 1st Corinthians 9:27, 2nd Timothy 2:10-13, 1st Timothy 6:12 ). Numerous people believe there is a Heaven for them when they die, but only few are living the lifestyle that will guarantee such dream. There will be shocks and surprises in eternity. Sample headings of these funeral posters include: What a shock! 'Called to glory' 'Gone too soon' 'Obituary' and so on and so forth.
What a shock! The greatest 'what a shock' a person could ever experience is when he wakes up one day in eternity and he has been told that he is destined to spend eternity in the lake of fire; the reason being he had never lived the lifestyle that could guarantee him eternal life in the Kingdom of God; (Philippians 3:18-19, 2ndThessalonians 2:12, Revelation 21:27, Revelation 21:8, 1st Corinthians 6:9-11, Ephesians 5:1-5 ); Or he wakes up one day and he has been told that all what he believed was a lie and a delusion from Satan, and that since he had never accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal savior, he can never enter into the Kingdom of God; ( 1st John 2: 22-23, 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9, John 8:24 ). This kind of greatest and spiritual 'what a shock' is happening, had happened and will continue to happen to countless number of souls yet undead until this world comes to an end. The 'what a shock' we see on the funeral posters all over town are mere phrases of attention, seeking empathy from sympathizers. May this booklet be a timely intervention to all my near and distant audience. Are you born again? (John 3:3), then evangelize to your family before they face the greatest "what a shock".
'Goon too soon' The bible expressly stated that this world is not our home, and so we are all strangers and pilgrims on earth. (1st Peter 2:11 ). With this as the preamble, let me remind you that, everyone, whether rich or poor, young or aged, great or small, educated or uneducated, black or white, first class citizen or average citizen, religious or irreligious, including the writer and reader of this document alike, has a direct appointment with death, and after death comes judgment. ( Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:11-15, Daniel 7:9-10). When that time comes, you can never avoid it, neither can you ever fulfill it by proxy. Mercy is only obtainable here on earth.
What then is the meaning of gone too soon, when you are living in a foreign land and it's time for you to depart and render account? Gone too soon should be a term for people who are entering into a Christ-less eternity, in the chambers of hell. They have wasted their chances of salvation whiles they had breath. ( Isaiah 55:6-7, Hebrews 3:15) They have no hope of redemption; ( Matthew 13:50 ). Their names are not in the book of life and their portion will be with condemned Satan forever and ever; ( Rev. 20:15, Psalm 69:28). Their chances of salvation are lost forever. Dear soul, are you also going to be gone too soon, or glad to be gone?
'Called to glory' Perhaps, that was the banner headline of the rich man when he died and left this present world. His family, five bothers, friends, and sympathizers were so happy and fully convinced that their rich brother had been called to glory in Heaven's Kingdom. On the contrary, the rich man received the greatest surprise in his life; (Galatians 6:7, Matthew 16:26, Isaiah 55:8-9), thinking he is qualified for the Kingdom of God, only to wake up in the realms of eternity to find himself in the prison cells of hell, lost forever, separated from the glory of God forever, to be missed forever, and to be tormented forever. Realizing how precious life is, he begged, wept and cried regrettably for a second chance so as he could warn his five brothers on earth, and if possible, get right with God before he die again; (Luke 16: 19-31 ). The response he got was another big 'what a shock'. Come to think about it this way; the only call, a person could ever receive to glory is when after he had satisfactorily finished his assignment here on earth; ( Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Acts 20:24 ), and had been ushered into glory by his creator with the angels beckoning him into the cities of Heaven, with open arms, amidst songs of praises and victories; (Psalm 116:15, 2nd Timothy 4:7-8, Revelation 21:4 ). The mere 'Called to glory' we see on the funeral posters across the media are but pretentious man-induced remarks of empathy. Precious reader, good funeral rites for the dead body of a lost soul is as deceptive as decorated toys in the hands of a baby who is dying out of hunger; he needs food, not toys. Your soul, in the same way, need the bread of life, that is Jesus Christ; not a good funeral ceremony; (John6:35). Surrender to Jesus Christ now, and stay faithful. The guidelines below can help you.
Recognize and acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of the resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. (Acts 2:21, John 3: 14-18, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 14:6, 1st Timothy 4:10, Acts 13:39, Revelation 1:18, 1st Thessalonians 1:9-10, Ezekiel 28:4, Deuteronomy 30:19).
Confess and forsake all your sins, known and unknown unto Him, asking for His mercy and forgiveness.(Proverbs 28:13, 1stJohn 1:8-9, Psalm19:12, Psalm51:1-4).Take note that refusal to believe in Jesus Christ is equally a sin that leads one to hell. (John 16:9, Revelation 21:8, 2ndThessalonians 1:8-9)
Believe that Jesus Christ has paid the price for your sins and reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God. (Galatians 2:20 John 10:9-11). Come near to God in prayer every day. If you sin again, confess it quickly unto God. Associate with other believers in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Be not afraid, for Christ is always with you. Give yourself to Bible studies & prayer. (Hebrews 13:5, John 14:15, John 14:21, Acts 6:4, Proverbs 28:13, Hebrews 10:25). Read this gospel tract again , photocopy & pass it on.