Your Last 5 Minutes ALIVE
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER in the USA?
Careful - this is actually a trick question - Statistics show that the number one killer in the United States is: DEATH. ...In fact, the statistics are very sobering: Ten out of every ten people die! What that means to you and me, is that everything we hold dear is going to be torn away from us one day by death.
What if this were your LAST 5 MINUTES ALIVE? Do you KNOW where you would spend eternity? What if what you believe about God, Heaven and Hell and your eternal future is wrong? Would you WANT to know the truth? With so much at stake, isn't it at least worth considering?
When you die, a sheet will most likely be pulled over your head, an autopsy may be performed on your body, and arrangements will be made for some sort of memorial service. Your body will be placed in a grave and covered with dirt; after time passes, those mourning your death will begin to forget about you, but you will still be very much alive - in either Heaven or Hell; oh yes, you WILL be in either one place or the other, based upon the authority of scripture.
Your 5 MINUTES are passing quickly, so I'll get to the point and tell you how you can get to the place of your choosing:
If your choice is Hell, do nothing! You have already done enough! "For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a) "The wicked shall be turned into hell..." (Psalm 9:17) All you have to do is look at God's Ten Commandments to see that you have broken God's Law. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)You may think that, "God is good, He will excuse my sin." But, it is because of His goodness that He must make sure liars, thieves, adulterers, etc. recieve justice.He would be a corrupt Judge if He overlooked injustice.
Here is the amazing thing: God made a way where His goodness and His justice could meet. We broke the Law, but He became a man to pay our fine! "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) Jesus (being God in the flesh) satisfied the Law when He died on the cross for you. Then He arose from death. God can now forgive us and grant us the gift of eternal life.
So many make the mistake of thinking their good deeds might outweigh the bad. But our entrance to Heaven will only be determined by Jesus' sacrifice, otherwise, His death was useless. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) You can't earn a gift. The goodness of God leads us to repentance.
Want to go to Heaven? If that is your choice, an eternal transaction must now take place; a one-time decision on your part to accept the gift of forgiveness that God freely offers you through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. This involves the realization of your sin, and the desire to repent of it. That's why Jesus said in John 3:3, "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
If you are reading this, you have obviously been born at one time physically. Do you know of any time when you have been born spiritually? When a person trusts Christ to save them, they are a brand new creation of God. His Spirit lives inside that person and changes begin to take place. One change you should notice is that the Bible begins to make sense to you, where maybe it didn't before.
Your time IS short in this world; ...this decision is your own personal responsibility.If you are serious about this, call upon God in prayer and thank Him for what He has gone through to purchase eternal life for you. Repent of your sins (name them) and ask Him to make Himself real to you in the next few days. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
Read your Bible daily (you might try starting with the gospel of John) and obey what you read.Can you think of anyone who may have been praying for you? Call them up, they will be overjoyed at your decision, and may be able to suggest a church that you can begin attending to get the nurturing and help you will need as you begin your new life.
If you have questions about this, or need to talk to someone, you are welcome to call me at: (608) 592-4804; ask for Mark
"For God so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in himshould not perish,but have everlasting life."John 3:16
Thanks to "This Could Be Your Last Five Minutes Alive" by Liberty Tract League and livingwaters.org, for ideas represented. Scripture quoted is from the Holy Bible, King James Version.