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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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