We are all going to die

We are all going to die

Benjamin Franklin said that the only thing to be certain of is Death and Taxes. I disagree. Taxes are not certain. When a government changes by revolution, taxes are not certain. But Death is without argument certain. So that brings up the question. What happens when you die?
Are you going to heaven? Yes? Why? Because you have been a good person? Well, let’s look at that.
Have you ever told a lie? I have. And it’s safe to say you have too. So what does that make us? That’s right, Liars!
Have you ever stolen anything? Download mp3s or movies from the internet without paying for them? Stolen money from your parents when you were a child? Taken anything that did not belong you you? If you still say No, well you just admitted that you are a liar. So what does that make us? Stealers? not the right word, (Sounds to much like a Football team in Pittsburgh) The right word would be thieves.
Have you ever looked at another person with lustful thoughts? Had sexual thoughts towards anyone other than a spouse? I would find it very hard to believe with today’s society that anyone could say no. The Bible says that any man that looks at another with lust has committed adultery in his heart.
Have you ever looked at another with hatred? Or hated someone? The Bible says that if you hate someone you have committed murder in your heart.
So that makes us lying, thieving, murdering , adulterers at heart. According to the Ten Commandments, we’ve broken 4 of them. So with that said, would God allow us in heaven even though we’ve sinned? The Bible says no. For if we have broken one of the “Laws” we have broken them all. And it also says that sin separates us from God.
OK so we’re doomed? No, God sent his only son, Jesus Christ to be our sin offering. To take our sins from us and wash us clean. To be our intercessor, to step in on our behalf and cleanse us of our sins. The Bible says that sin is death, but by raising from the dead, Jesus overcame death and sin. OK, some I’m in the clear? Not yet, Those whom follow Jesus are those whom Jesus washes clean. By excepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior then we are given the gift of salvation. we are saved from death and from our sins.
How does one accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Well let’s look at the Bible for that. Mark 1:15 says Mark 1:15 NIV “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Acts 17:29-31 NIV “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
So repent and believe. Not accept Jesus in your heart, not just surrender to Christ that he is Lord and Savior. Not give Jesus a try. Not fill the God shaped whole in your heart.
Repent, Jesus died for our sins.  We are sinful people. We must strive to not sin. Now does that mean that we must be perfect? There is only one who is perfect, and that is Jesus Christ. Praise God that he is merciful and gracious with us! When we stumble we have God’s grace that will cover us, does that mean we can continue in sin, heavens no. Romans 5 and 6 explain this in great detail. As we read and study God’s word (the Bible) we grow in the Lord.