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Introduction
There are at least
three certainties to life - the first certainty is that you were
born, the second certainty is as absolute as the first, and that is
that you can live forever. Some claim that death is a certainty -
but this is not so. Scripture assures us that some people never
died, and it is equally certain about the fact that many others will never die.
So what can I do to
ensure that I live forever? This question leads us to our third
certainty, which is this: Those who do not know the answer to this
question will ask it with increased urgency as they grow older
until, finally, on their death bed, this question will become all
consuming.
With the sincere hope
that you will not wait until it is too late before seeking the
answer to this question - here it is in all its simplicity.
There is only one
thing that you can do to ensure that you live forever . . .
Before we can do that
one thing, however, there are a few things that we have to know:
No doubt you have
considered the present state of our world and no doubt you are
growing somewhat concerned about the future. Poverty is everywhere,
crime rates are increasing alarmingly, sickness is epidemic, wars
are threatening all over the globe, people are becoming more and
more insensitive, cruel and hateful, and new horror upon new horror
plays out before us every day. Where will it all end? Thinking
people the world over are more than convinced that planet earth is
headed for an unprecedented crisis.
So just what can we
do to free ourselves from this crippled vessel that has settled
under a sea of clawing evil?
Firstly we need to
know that the root cause of the problems on planet earth are not
simply the result of a set of circumstances - nor are they simply
the unpredictable meanderings of history. The root cause of our
problems on this planet can best be described by two words - human
nature, or, if you like, human character.
Which means, in
truth, that we all have contributed in lesser or greater degree to
the problems on our planet. While it is true that some of us might
not be as bad as others, Scripture assures us that we all have
sinned and that we all fall short of the character of God. (Romans
3:23).
Personally we might
not have made our world that much worse, but what have we done to
make it a little better - not just for ourselves, but for others?
Sure, we might not have hurt people the way others have, but have we
never thought hurtful things about someone? We might not have killed
as some people have, but have we never "murdered" someone in our
minds? We might not have committed adultery as others have, but have
we never committed adultery in our imagination? Scripture assures us
that "no one living is righteous." - I guess that must include all
of us. (Psalm 143:2)
So what can we do
about our plight? Can we cancel out the record of the bad we have
done by doing good? Well, Scripture assures us that all our
righteous deeds have the equivalent value of a batch of used
menstrual pads. (Isaiah 64:6). Ouch! This means that our good deeds
can never settle the debt for our bad deeds or for what we are. But
wait - there is hope - absolute hope.
The irony of it all
is that if you have read this far, and if you are honest enough to
admit that you have a few memories that you would sooner forget,
then you are ready to do the only thing that you can ever do to
ensure that you will live for ever . . . and that is to accept the
Gift.
This is a Gift that
was given, not to people who think that they are worthy of living
forever, or who think that they ever can be worthy of living
forever, but to people who know that they are not worthy of living
forever and that they never will be worthy of living forever.
You see, only those
who acknowledge that they are sick, will approach the great
Physician and discover, to their delight, that He was wounded for
their healing. Only those who know that they are not right with God,
will come to Him and discover, with joy, that He secured peace
between God and man, and between earth and heaven, by taking the penalty for the sins of all
people upon Himself. Only those who know that they do not deserve to
live for ever will appreciate, with deep thankfulness, that He was
pierced for their transgressions, that He was crushed for their
iniquities, and that He died the death that they deserve to die -
that they might live forever. Only those who acknowledge their
selfishness will be able to appreciate His selflessness in giving
His all, even His life - for them.
For thousands of
years, millions of people have been thrilled by the thought that
"God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16). May this thought thrill you dear reader.
He lived the perfect
life that we cannot live - as the representative of humanity - and
He died the horrible death that we deserve to die - as the
representative of humanity. And now, if you accept Him as your
Substitute, as your Saviour, and as your best Friend, then,
regardless of how bad a life you may have lived, God will consider
Jesus' righteousness as though it were your righteousness, God will
consider Jesus' character as though it were your character, and He
will accept you as though you had never done anything wrong.
Is that a gift? Is
that a gift that is easy to receive? That's why they call it the
"good news" - sometimes it seems almost too good to believe - but it
is incredibly good news indeed. So if you want to live forever, all
you have to do is forget the idea that you can ever be good
enough to live forever, and simply accept Jesus as the One who loved
you enough to suffer the punishment that you and I deserve - so that you
and I may live forever.
Every other religion
in this world teaches that you can do it yourself - but you can't -
and all who have ever taken the trouble to truthfully examine their
hearts will have realized that they cannot possibly "earn" eternal
life. No matter what your present condition, therefore, and no
matter what your past, do not focus on your weaknesses and your
mistakes - for by so doing you will only grow weaker.
Shield your
mind from bad influences and from bad memories, and focus on Him and
He will make you strong. Spend a little time getting to know Him
every day, and you will marvel at how He will change your life.
Sure, you will have trials, especially in the beginning, but with
your hand firmly clutched in His hand, these trials will only make
you stronger. In this regard we urge you to carefully consider the
feature, A Brand New You.
If you have grown up
thinking that God is always looking for a reason to punish you -
then why would He have given His Son to be punished for you? If you
have ever been given the impression that God spends His days looking
for reasons to keep you out of heaven, then why would He endure such
agony trying to get you there?
The God that I know
is infinitely kind - He would have to be infinitely kind to love a
wretch like me, and to die for a wretch like me. I love Him because
He has proven His love for me. How can we not love someone who took
our place upon an instrument of torture and death so that we might
live forever?
The above is a
summary of the chapters that follow. Without
ignoring your need for daily study of the Scriptures, please take
the trouble to study these chapters carefully - on an empty stomach
- and they will act as "cat's eyes" to help you to rightly interpret
Scripture and to stay on the road that leads to the land of fadeless
day.
Heaven is going to be
a wonderful place. No more sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow,
no more crying, no more heartache. There your wishes will be
answered before you even wish them.
See you there my dear
friend.
God bless you.
Proceed to Chapter 1
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