Monday, September 12, 2011

A little heavy?

If you were to die today, what would happen?  Where would you go?  Would you just cease to exist?  Or, do you believe what the Bible says?  Would it be heaven or hell?

A little heavy this morning?  Maybe...especially since I haven't blogged since June, it's like whoa Megan, chill.  While I might like to do a post about some of our fun summer activities, or Nolan's first day of preschool, or Aubrey's first days of first grade...or even my recent adventures with Adelynne, my initial questions seem more urgent and more important...and quite frankly, heavy on my heart.

There is a celebrity who is an atheist, a very outspoken atheist, who has been vocal about his frustrations with Christians who don't share their faith with others.   While he doesn't believe in God, heaven or hell, he finds it alarming that someone who believes that if someone doesn't accept Jesus that they would burn for eternity, why wouldn't they share that with someone they believe is destined for hell?  He said, "You must really hate someone to not share your gospel with them knowing they will be going to hell."  I found that so convicting.  Those of you that read this blog, I love you enough to tell you the truth.

I believe what the Bible says.  John 3:16-21 says that those who do not trust in Jesus as their Savior are condemned.  I recently explained to Aubrey that not everyone who dies will go to heaven.  "You have a choice Aubrey, love Jesus and trust him as your only savior, and when you die, you will go to heaven.  Don't trust in Jesus as your savior, and when you die, you will wake up in hell."  We talked about hell some.  I was a little hesitant to do so, as, I don't want to scare her into a relationship with Christ.  I want her relationship to come from the weight of her sin.  But, at the same time, the reality is, that what the Bible says isn't ambiguous...it's very clear.  2 choices!

I am a sinner...an impatient, sharp tongued, sometimes inappropriate human being, full of many flaws.  I've made MANY mistakes.  My life especially in late high school and early college, was a life, I so desperately want my children to avoid.  Not only did I do things that were wrong, but, I felt lost, desperately lost, hopeless, and down right unhappy.  I got to a point where I just felt as if I could not go on any longer this way.  But, guilt and shame seemed to always be around...like I could never measure up to what the "christian life" was supposed to be like.  How could I ever measure up?  I understood however, that there was no way out without accepting Jesus.  Once that recognition of sin came, and making Jesus the center of my life, the other stuff came.  I began to realize that Jesus doesn't want perfection, because if I'm perfect, no one sees Him, and how He can transform even to most wretched of sinners, which was how I felt.  The Bible gives many examples of Jesus spending his time with people that that so desperately needed him while the ones who felt they were righteous turned away.  Even His disciples, were not men of perfection or wealth.  Matthew 9:12 says, "Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but, the sick.  But go and learn what this means:  I desire mercy, not sacrifice.  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"  My word...He wants me.

Jesus doesn't care what you wear (to church or anywhere), He doesn't care what you're addicted to (pornography, drugs, etc), He doesn't care what you've done (good or bad), he doesn't care if you have piercings, or tatoos, or if you abuse your spouse.  He went to the cross knowing that if you trusted in Him, that His blood would cover ALL of that.  He also knew that even if you've been good all your life, and you didn't choose Him in this life, you would spend an eternity in hell.  Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Please, if you are unsure of your eternal destination, accept Jesus today.  Make Him the Lord of your life...the rest will come.  Don't make excuses for why you shouldn't, He doesn't care...He loved you enough the die for you.

If you were to die today, what would happen?  Where would you go?  Would you just cease to exist?  Or, do you believe what the Bible says?  Would it be heaven or hell?  I love you enough to ask.

Please listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c0N-DpfLR4