No Second Chance

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, without sin, unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:27-28

 

“And the devil, who led them astray, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heavens fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, out of the things which were written in the books.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one, according to their works.  And Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

 

A lot has happened since I last wrote.  My family and I traveled across the country to clean up the belongings of a loved family member who had passed away.  In the process, albeit with many struggles, we relocated back to Michigan.  While it gives me pleasure to talk about the struggles and upholding faith, even in the midst of trials and tribulations, noting how also the devil will use this as an opportune time to try and make any Believer turn to the left or the right, this will be discussed more in detail during an upcoming radio show.  I believed God knew the task that we had before us and a break in the ministry was allowed to take care of what was necessary to take care of.  During that time, through much heartache, I had some first hand experience in seeing the fruits of sin, as those things which had to be gone through, were went through.

 

People go about their daily lives and while this has been talked about before, simply the fact is that God is not in their daily lives, whether or not they make mention of His name, the sadness and the absolute desperate situation that they are in must be made known!  As I write this, I write this doing ‘all to stand’ (Eph. 6:14), knowing that even in this dark age that we live in, there is a huge absence of truth.  Should my enemies prosper over me, all I can do is wear the armor of God and stand.

 

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on all the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies.  Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”  Ephesians 6:10-20

 

“Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor has stood in the way of sinners, nor has sat in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not wither, and all that he does shall prosper.  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  For Jehovah knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.”  Psalms 1

 

There is a world out there who is perishing, a world who cares not, nor desires to care.  They go on in their lives, pretending to know God or pretending that their sin before their very Creator matters little.  Their mouths are an open sepulcher.

 

“For You are not a Mighty God that delights in wickedness; nor shall evil dwell with You.  The boastful shall not stand in Your sight. You hate all doers of iniquity.  You shall destroy those who speak lies; Jehovah abhors the man of blood and treachery.  But as for me, I will come into Your house in the abundance of Your mercy; I will bow down in Your fear toward Your holy temple.  Lead me, O Jehovah, in Your righteousness, because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.  Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against You.  But let all those who put their trust in You rejoice; let them always shout for joy, because You defend them. And let those who love Your name be joyful in You.  For You, O Jehovah, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”  Psalms 5:4-12

 

Going through someone else’s personal possessions is never easy.  Once before I had to do the exact same thing for my father’s things.  You know the person, you can see what they did through their things, as well as through their photos of when they were young.  Now that I am in my 40’s, it is a big reflection on the way I used to think and behave when I was in my 20’s.  The other problem is when it comes to loved ones, you certainly know them better than their acquaintances. 

 

Now before I proceed any further, let it be know, that Salvation is for every man, woman and child on the planet.  We were all born into sin and whether or not someone is perceived as good, as there are many good deeds that people do, unless they repent and believe into Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Son of God who died on the Cross for their sins, as well as anyone else who believes into Him, they are doomed.  There is no second chance to be had once they have died, their second chance, your second chance is right now.

 

…”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…  Romans 3:23

 

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  Psalms 51:5

 

“For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no one should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

 

Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3

 

…”testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Acts 20:21

 

“For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2

 

In most cases sin grows and causes a lot more problems than people who decide to take the ‘bait’ realize. 

 

“Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts and enticed.  Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.”  Jacob (James) 1:13-15

 

I know quite a few people who are alcoholics.  Some may admit it, others may not, but they themselves know.  I had one acquaintance who talked about how he had spent more on alcohol and cigarettes in his life than having $50k in the bank and a brand new luxury pickup truck.  Yet night after night he continued to come home from work with beer and get drunk.  As he was a man in his late 50’s, how about just taking a look at many of those in their young 20’s (or earlier) who started off partying with their buddies. 

 

How many of them would have thought that 30 years later they would have become the monster that they are?  How many of them didn’t realize the dangers of what they were messing around with?  Perhaps, dear reader, that is you, perhaps it is not alcohol, but some sort of other sin that has totally encompassed your life.  Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is able to break you free from such sin?  Do you not believe that He who Created you is able to free you from the sin that has so engulfed your life, and through that provide Salvation that you might have eternal life?

 

Many people that I have talked to over the years have their lives plagued with problems, much of those problems can be tracked down to some sort of sin.  Yet many of those who find themselves chained by sin, have a desire to break free from it.  There are times that some sort of program or as it is said their ‘will power’ is able to separate them from the things they hate, nonetheless, these sins are still accounted towards their own soul.  For, even though it was finished on the Cross (John 19:30), for those who haven’t repented and by faith believed into Jesus Christ, their is no hope.  Their judgment awaits, their day of reckoning comes, as they will inevitably stand before the Most High God who will with absolute certainty declare them who do not have their name written in the Book of Life (Rev. 13:8), those who did not repent (Acts 17:30-31), those who did not believe into Christ as their Savior (John 3:18), guilty and cast them into the Lake of Fire for all eternity.

 

The harsh reality that most people around the world do not want to face is that they too will have their body lowered into a grave, they too will die.  They rather not face the facts, they would rather ignore the reality, they would rather chose their way then God’s way.  Once again, have they forgotten Who it was who Created them?

 

“Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world; both children of mankind, and sons of men, rich and poor together.  My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.  I will extend my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.  Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the depravity of my supplanters surrounds me?  Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches:  None of them can at all redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him  (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it comes to an end forever), that he might yet live forever and never see the pit.  For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish ones perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, and their dwelling places from generation to generation; they call their lands after their own names.  Nevertheless man, though precious, does not remain; he is like the animals that perish.  This way of theirs is their folly; yet those who follow delight in their sayings. Selah.  Like sheep they are appointed to the grave; death shall shepherd them, and the upright shall have the rule over them in the morning; their form is consumed; Sheol is their home.”  Psalms 49:1-14

 

What more can be said or what more needs to be said?  Truly those who are wise will forsake their ways and embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior.  You, dear reader, are living right now with a chance to turn from your sin and by faith accept Jesus Christ.  As you read this or listen to this, you still have a chance, there is still hope.  Why o why would you take any postponing getting your life right with God, accepting His free gift to you?

 

“Say to them: As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I take no delight in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why will you die, O house of Israel?  Therefore you, O son of man, say to the children of your people: The righteousness of the righteous man shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall because of it in the day that he turns from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live because of his righteousness in the day that he sins.  When I say to the righteous that he shall live life, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of all his righteousness shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has done, he shall die.  Again, when I say to the wicked, You shall die the death; if he turns from his sin and does justice and righteousness, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life, not committing iniquity, he shall live life; he shall not die.  None of all his sins which he has sinned shall be remembered against him; he has done justice and righteousness; he shall live life.  Yet the children of your people say, The way of Jehovah is not fair. But as for them, it is their way which is not fair!  When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.  But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does justice and righteousness, he shall live because of it.”  Ezekiel 33:11-19

 

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man some would even be bold enough to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to every person, because everyone sinned.  For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not accounted when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  And the gift is not like it was through the one who sinned. For the judgment from one offense was unto condemnation, but the free gift from many offenses is unto justification.  For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment was to every person unto condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift is to every person unto justification of life.  For as through one man’s disobedience many were declared sinners, so also through one Man’s obedience many will be declared righteous.  Moreover the Law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:6-21

 

In America there are many distractions, one of those biggest distractions can be someone’s family and friends, even coworkers.  For certainly those who become Saved are different than those who are not.

 

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”  Luke 14:26-27

 

“Do not be led astray: Evil company corrupts good character.  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak to your shame.”  1st Corinthians 15:33-34

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  2nd Corinthians 5:17

 

What exactly are people chasing after?  Why are they following these celebrities who are leading them by example, all the way to Hell?!  Why are people trying to impress those who are no better than themselves, knowing that both will end up in the Lake of Fire?!  Of what advantage is it to be ‘cool’ or ‘accepted’, if in the end those choices, due to not repenting and accepting Christ, lead you to Hell? 

 

Why would people choose this world over God?  Do not the graveyards bring testimony of those who have walked before you?  Consider diligently an older graveyard that may be in your area.  One where the memory of those names are all or all but gone.  Who were they?  What did they do?  If they chose the world, which most people do, of what advantage are their vain aspirations now?  They have no second chance, their fate is sealed for ALL of eternity. 

 

A million years they will still exist in Hell.  A billion years, they are still there.  Trillions of years will pass and it will be not even a drop in the bucket of their sentence, one fitting for those who choose this life, who choose to not repent, to not follow their very Creator.  Harsh you say, I say to you, not warning you would be very harsh.  Yet consider and consider diligently that you still have a chance, you have a second chance, but when you take your last breath, of which no man knows when his will be, there will be no second chance. 

 

Dear reader, I would rather be harsh now, but in all reality loving, then as your friends and family are gathered over your grave, mourning over your death, whether soon or decades later, that there be hope that those who are there and are Saved will know that though your departure certainly brings tears, they will indeed see you again.  The reality is that mankind was not made to be able to do whatever we want, but we were made with free will to worship and serve the One and only true God. 

 

Certainly there is a hereafter and whether or not you choose to believe it, understand that He who Created you has proclaimed it and He has also proclaimed that all men everywhere should repent and that includes you!

 

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has established a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”  Acts 17:30-31

 

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so persistently harasses us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Amen!