TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• A week ago today, a dear family friend (my mom’s best friend, Debbie) went to be with Jesus. Tomorrow is her funeral. And as I have rushed through my busy week, dealing with this and that, I’m reminded that once upon a time, both before and during her cancer journey, Debbie did the same things.
She was a busy woman in Corporate America. She did the same kind of things you and I do — she had her to-do list… had problems to navigate… laughed with friends… took care of her pets… she grieved when her husband died unexpectedly some years ago… she celebrated when her grandsons were born… she cried with loved ones when things were hard… basically — she did life just the way countless others do.
But she also prayed. She went to church. And she trusted in Jesus as her Savior.
And because of that, the woman who sang so beautifully at my wedding ten years ago is singing for Jesus today.
In all that we do in the dash between our birth and death — what part has eternal significance?
Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).
While Debbie left behind “stuff,” her real treasure and what really mattered wasn’t here to begin with. The temporal was irrelevant and insignificant compared to her first glimpse of Jesus.
The stuff won’t matter… the only thing that matters comes down between two choices: to accept Jesus or reject Jesus.
There is no middle option. Indecision or indifference to the truth is, in fact, a decision.
A very costly one.
A decision for Jesus means eternal life.
A decision (or indecision) against Jesus means eternal damnation.
There are no “get out of ‘hell’ free cards here. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The most eternally significant thing we can do is accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
As the world seems to be in chaos with world leaders talking about vaccine mandates and another shutdown, we’re all filled with questions, concerns, and “what if’s.”
But here’s a “what if” that’s far bigger than a vaccine or shut down… what if you haven’t accepted Jesus? What if your family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors haven’t decided to follow Jesus?
That’s the “what if” that should terrify us. Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” We all have to face that one day, death will meet us too. And in that moment, we’ll face the consequences of our decision to accept or reject Jesus.
I’m ready. Debbie was ready. Are you?
Today, as you pray, thank God for every breath you take because life is a gift from Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to use you to show others the love of Jesus Christ. And if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, pray for forgiveness and accept Him as the risen King who took your punishment, so you don’t have to.*
*Visit my website and the tab, “Saving Grace.” It explains how to trust in Jesus. I also encourage you to search “Francis Chan – Rope Illustration” on YouTube.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
