There was a story on the news last night about a man who had won millions of dollars but waited too long to claim it. Wow, I thought. Imagine that.
That kind of money could literally change a life. Most of us would be in such a hurry to claim it, flames would be coming off of our shoes.
But for whatever reason, this guy procrastinated until one day when he finally went to cash in, it was too late.
What a major bummer. Imagine how much he must be kicking himself for that one.
Much of the world does the same thing with the salvation from judgment for sin and gift of eternal life that God offers in Jesus Christ.
Many people know that they are sinners. They know they are accountable to God. They believe that the Bible is true and that Jesus really lived and died for the world. But for whatever reason, they have never yielded their lives to Him, never received Him, and never repented.
Salvation doesn’t come by merely acknowledging that these things are true. Jesus taught that unless we have been born again, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John3:3)
I don’t know why anyone would procrastinate when it comes to their eternal welfare. People should be running to the foot of the cross. What God offers in Christ is worth infinitely more than millions upon millions of dollars. Yet people resist it. Wow. It’s unimaginable that any person would choose death an destruction over life in paradise.
The offer is available as long as they have life, until the moment they walk through the door of death. Then, it’s too late. It’s appointed unto man once to die, and after that to face judgement. (Hebrews9:27) Did you know that approximately 150,000 people die every day? That means that right now there are about 150,000 people out there just like you and me with plans, hopes, etc., who will be snatched out of this world by death. People think they will repent or come to Christ later on in life or on their deathbed. But there is no guarantee they’ll have such an opportunity. Imagine the horror and regret for those who have procrastinated for years and suddenly death has seized upon them. They have the opportunity now, today. Compel them, convince them, plead with them to take it!
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Is 55:6,7
There is a whole world of people out there who desperately need to know about the forgiveness that you and I enjoy every day. Go tell them about it!