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Dialogue: Your Two Appointments with God

Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Posted by Net

Published by the Bible Advocate Press (http://home.cog7.org/publications) Have you ever had an appointment with a physician to discuss the results of a biopsy for cancer? Have you ever been summoned to the boss’s office, not knowing what to anticipate? Waiting for the moment of truth at such appointments can create deal of anxiety! Regardless of your hectic schedule or your age, god has scheduled you for two specific appointments with Him. What you are now, what you do now, and what you believe now will directly affect the outcome of these divine appointments. Your predestined appointments with God are summarised in one succinct verse of scripture: ‘It is an appointed unto men to die once, but after this the judgement (Hebrews 9:27). Death and judgement – these are the two inescapable appointments with God, and you cannot avoid them! Are you ready for these two appointments? If you die today, are you ready to meet your Maker? Are you prepared to be judged for eternity? Awesome Judgement: The certainty of a final day of judgement for every human being is one of the central teachings of the Bible. Consider these verses: - “He (God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness� (Acts 17:31). - “All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from his goats� (Mathew 25:32) - I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened…. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things that were written in the books (Revelation 20:12) - We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he ahs done, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). - So each of us will give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12) The certainty of coming before a Holy God to be judged should sober us all. Because we all have sinned and deserved to be condemned! (Romans 3:23; 6:23). We may successfully hide many of our sins from others in this life, but we cannot hide them from God; and the ultimate wages for sin is death. Scripture call this the second death, destruction in the lake of fire (revelation 20: 14&15). Whether we think about it or not, we all face the certainty pf physical death at the end of this life, followed by the judgment of God which will determine our eternal destiny. No one escapes the first death, but God provides a way for all Human beings to stand guiltless in the judgement and to escape the second death. But someone must pay the wages of sin. One way out: The only way to face the certain death and final and judgement to come is by having out sins forgiven through Jesus Christ! The good news stems from God’s Great love for all human beings, created in His image: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16) We were all sinners destined to eternal death, but Jesus Christ came to make a way for us to live forever. How do we obtain this gift of eternal life that God wants us to give? The Bible’s answer is clear: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Or, as the apostle Peter put it to the crowd of Jews gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Repent, and let everyone of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). To repent means we turn away form our sins, even as we turn Jesus for the hope He has promised. It means that we find a new way of life- a way of obedience to the will of God as revealed in His word. It means that we invite Jesus t be the Lord of our lives. It’s your choice: At this very moment, you must have one the greatest human privileges – the privilege of choice. You can either choose the way of faith in Christ, of repentance from sins and of eternity with God, or … You can choose to continue living you own way apart from God, trying to enjoy your sins and moral irresponsibly, moving ever onward toward certain physical death and judgement- the eternal death to follow. The choice is fully up to you, but we can tell you what God wants: he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance� (2 Peter 3: 9). Jesus loves you so much He paid the penalty for sins by dying on the Cross. Though He was completely sinless, He offered Himself as your substitute. he dies so you will not have to (Hebrews 2:9).Only through accepting His death in your place can you receive forgiveness of your sins (Ephesians 1:7). There is no other way to escape eternal death because there is salvation in no one else (Acts 4: 12). Today you have the opportunity of erasing your sinful past, in the eyes of God, and beginning all over again over again as though you had never sinned (Colossians 1:21,22). Sure things Sure Faith You have probably heard someone say there are only two sure things –death and taxes. That is only half right. The whole truth is that there are two things for certain: Death and Judgement before God to follow. These two appointments will surely take place, and you will be there when they do. The only escape from the second death is to repent form all your sins and accept Jesus as the Saviour and lord of your life. “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life (1John 5:12). Where do you stand? Never deceive yourself into thinking that you have no need of repentance from your sins or that you have no need of Jesus in your life. To deny your sin and the reality of your need for forgiveness is to assume that you know more about life and death that the God who has created you. Why not approach the Judge and get things straightened out today? His bench is easily approached, and he listened sympathetically to those who throw themselves on the mercy of His Court. His loving invitation is clear: Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Mathew 11: 28-30). Keeping in mind you two unavoidable appointments with god – death and judgement, what more important business could you possibly have than to accept this offer Jesus make to you now. Carefully consider your decision. This prayer can help you get started toward your two appointments; “Dear God I need you. I know that I am a sinner in need of Your forgiveness. I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I ask for Jesus to come into my life right now and cleanse me. I trust Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. In Jesus name Amen.� ________________________________________________________________ Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are taken from The New King James Version, copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, by Thomas Nelson , Inc., Nashville, Tennessee. Used by permission. All rights reserved. R2006-1-20-6.2006 Revised first edition, March 200 Second printing, March 2001 Third printing, October 2002 Fourth printing, March 2004 Second Edition, June 2006