May 12, 2020 - All people have an eternal decision to make before our deaths here on earth.
Since the days of Adam and Eve and their original sin in the garden of Eden man has been born with an internal sin nature that does not allow any one of us to live a perfect and sinless life as did Jesus Christ.
No, we are not able due to the sin of Adam to live without sin no matter how holy our intentions.
Even the apostle Paul admits that he could follow a sinless life as he wished but would fall back into sin even though his only wish was to serve the Lord.
"For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out." (Romans 7:15-18)
That is a description of the sin nature that dwells within all people without exception and keeps all people from being able to follow God's will on their own. On our own it is just not possible, but with God's will and his power in us all things are possible.
One day a young rich man came to Jesus asking what he lacked in being able to be saved, Jesus told him to go and sell all of his belongings and give them to the poor and to then follow him and he would then have treasures built up in heaven. The young rich man could not bring himself to give away his worldly possessions so he went away without salvation.
Jesus then remarked to his disciples; "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:23-26)
Due to the sin nature within us, no man or woman can be saved on their own, we must have God's help in the form of his Son Jesus Christ if we are to be able to enter into the kingdom of God.
I want to ask you a very, vey important question this morning. A question you must be able to answer without hesitation or doubt, no ifs, ands, or buts if you are now ready and qualified by the blood of Jesus, to enter into the kingdom of God.
This question is: Tell me please, do you know where you will be two hundred years from now!
My friends, if you cannot answer that question without hesitation "YES", then you are not ready and do not truly know Jesus Christ as your Lord, which all must do if they are to enter into the kingdom of God.
You may scoff and say, "No one knows where they will be two hundred years from now!
Oh, but yes. For I can tell you without doubt or hesitation that I certainly do know where I will be for I know that I will not live two hundred years and I will have died the physical death of this earthly body.
I also know without doubt I am saved from the penalties of my own sins and that my soul, my spirit will never die but that I will spend eternity in heaven with my Lord.
Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ, but salvation is available and paid in full for all who will accept him as Lord and Master.
It is as the Scripture directs, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." (Romans 10:9-11)
"There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2)
Come forward today my friends and accept Jesus Christ as your own Sovereign Lord and Savior.
For it is only through his blood shed out on the cross of Calvary that man can be saved from the penalties of his own sinful life which is the death of his spirit and an eternity of being away from the Lord.
In a place of which the Bible says is a place where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth from the unbearable pain and suffering that never stops nor ends...
Accept him today and know his peace and his joy as you will then know for certain what your future holds and you too can then say, YES, if asked, "Do you know where you will be two hundred years from now!"
May his blessings be upon you this day and forever...
