One Life to Live

James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. It's a beautiful day, and it's our deep joy to welcome you to the worship celebration today. We are glad that you made it. Today is a special Sunday called Change Destination Sunday.  We will be talking about the very important issue of our eternal destination. This is a major concern since eternity is unending.  Imagine a life that never ends in that cursed place we call "hell". It's an unacceptable scenario.  On the other hand, we can prepare ourselves in this life so that we can enjoy forever in that glorious place called "heaven". The Lord God All-Powerful loves us so much that he sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ  so that those who believe in him and follow him, will not be destroyed eternally, but will have the glorious privilege of enjoying eternal life with him.  But Salvation from the severe and tragic consequences of sin is not automatic nor is it easy.  Just because the Lord loves all people and Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins of humans does not mean that all people are automatically saved or that those who said "sinner's prayers" without understanding adequately and meaning deeply from the heart the words uttered are already reconciled with God.  No.  Rather there must be a deep conviction that we have broken the laws of the Creator to whom we are accountable, and the Lord will judge us for our rebellion and against his holy will.  We must stop doing the things that displease the Lord, and instead honor him with our whole lives. Man will not live forever on this present earth. He will die and after that we will face God in the Judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  When a person dies, he crosses a point of no return, a point where his eternal destination is fixed and cannot be changed anymore.  Therefore, he must use this present life to know God's will and do it so he honors God and receive from him the privilege of eternal life with God in the glorious new heavens and earth. Every single day the Lord weighs our actions  attitudes, and words.  If we do not have the righteousness of God that is available only through faith in Jesus Christ and not by good works done, with intention to buy or merit salvation, then we will be found wanting (deficient) and therefore be rejected by God.  The judgment of God on proud and wicked people can come anytime, with no warning as to the actual date.  So we do well to change our hearts and our ways now before it's too late. Yet there's good news for all who want to leave behind lives of sin and independence of God.  The Lord will forgive them and change their eternal destination from hell to heaven.  They will become children of the holy God and citizens of heaven. And that is the greatest gift one could every received. May you come out of this worship gathering rejoicing in God because you are sure that you are going to heaven. That is God's will for you. Lathur Badoy