by Ron Hutchcraft
If people had been right about that Mayan prophecy, you wouldn't be listening to me right now. Remember, December 21, 2012? That was the day everybody was talking about as the predicted "end of the world." Apparently it didn't happen.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Day After the End of the World."
What was amazing is that a prophecy supposedly made by an ancient Indian tribe centuries ago (And actually many scholars claim there was no such prediction) was taken so seriously by so many people. It was all over social media; people all over the place were talking about it. It was even all the buzz at our grandson's middle school.
This fascination with the end of the world - that's not anything new. History's full of dates, come and gone, set by would-be doomsday prophets. Good thing we're not living in Old Testament times. One wrong prediction and it proved you were a false prophet, and you got stoned to death.
There seems to be this strange sense, though, somewhere in our soul that this world has an expiration date. And that sense is right. Because one day - on the day and in the way of God's choosing - this world as we know it will be done. God - the One who rules the future says this in His book,
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat , the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up . 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved , what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved , and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? "
(2 Peter 3:10-12).
[blue]So, yes, one day this world as we know it will end. But you won't. No matter how or when the world ends. What matters for us is not when the planet's time runs out; it's when our time runs out. We're created in God's image, so we're creatures of eternity. Oh, our bodies are made to wear out (and let's face it, they give us plenty of reminders of that!) - but our souls... oh, they're made to go on forever.[/color]
Whatever guesses people may float about what happens to our souls, only God knows. And in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, He says it's one of two destinations. One where,
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"
See, the destination isn't decided then; it's decided now. Based on what we do with God's Son, Jesus, because of what He did for us. When He, according to the Bible, "carried our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). God says, "Nothing impure will ever enter heaven"
(Revelation 21:27).
So we can't go there with our sins of a lifetime. And only Jesus can forgive them, because only Jesus died for them.
The Bible says, "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You know, at Christmas time, if you leave someone's Christmas gift unopened under the tree, don't blame them if you never get to enjoy it. They paid the price for it. You've got to reach out and make it yours. That's Just like what Jesus did for us on the cross. He paid the price for us to go to heaven. We deserve the hell - the penalty for our sin. But you've got to reach out and make it yours.
End of the world? Not such a big deal. End of my time in this world? A very big deal. Next stop - appointment with Almighty God. There's nothing to fear about the end of life - about meeting God there - when you know every sin of your life has been forgiven by the One who died for them.
You could get that settled even today. Go to our website, YoursForLife.net and find out how to begin that relationship; how to be ready for eternity whenever it comes.
My wish and prayer for anyone reading this is that TODAY you would call on Jesus and settle your eternal destination forever. Trust HIM who loved you and died for your sins on a cruel Roman cross, and shed HIS HOLY and precious Blood for the remission and cleansing of your sins if you would only ASK HIM to forgive you and be your Lord and Savior.
I'll see you then on the other side in Glory where we can forever praise HIM for HIS gift of Salvation and HIS love for us!
My best to you,
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