| And Then...? |
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| Written by Pastor Sophocles Christodoulou |
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People look to the future with uncertainty. Many try to avoid the thought that one day they will get older and finally die. A law professor in a university, who was a believer, had a young law student in his office who was full of life and excitement about the “bright” future that he would have in his career as a lawyer. The
The professor asked the young student: “What do you plan to do when you finish your studies?” The student replied with excitement. “I will work as a lawyer and make a lot of money.” “And then?” asked the professor. “Then I will get married and have a family”, replied the student. “And then?” continued the professor. “Then I will get old and retire” replied the student. “And then?” the professor asked again. “Then… I will die…!” said the student who was starting to feel very uncomfortable, realizing that he could not avoid reality. The professor lowered his glasses, put his hands on his desk and looked at his student straight in the eyes, insisting on the same question: “And then?!!!”
Maybe you have never had a professor ask you this question, but this leaflet that you have in your hands right now is giving you the same challenge, as if the professor was asking you personally the same question: “And then…?”
The purpose is not to bring fear into your heart; on the contrary, it is designed to bring encouragement and good news into your life and at the same time bring you face to face with reality. We encourage you to accept Jesus Christ in your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, because He is the only way to Heaven and eternal life. (John 14:6)
Generally speaking, people tend to put off thinking about the future and especially about Heaven and Hell. The Bible warns us however: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44)
Let’s not live like the children of darkness but as children of the light. Study carefully the following passages from the Bible, the Word of God:
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-9)
Take a look now at the exciting event of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ:
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
A secret thought in everyone’s mind when we talk of future plans concerning vacation, business, studies, marriage etc is: “And then what…?” ”What does the future hold for me?” The reality though is that we don’t have to worry about our future when we know the One who holds the future in His hands. In Isaiah 9:6 we read:
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Since Jesus is the Everlasting Father we need to trust Him and live in Him so that we can be eternally protected.
Stating it in an even simpler way there are two roads: one leads to eternal destruction (it’s the road of the Devil and the system of the world) and the other (which is JESUS: THE WAY, John 14:6) leads to eternal life and joy in the Holy Spirit. Remember that:
“God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1Thessalonians 5:9)
It’s up to you to decide. Choose life now! Pray this prayer from your heart and according to the Bible you will be saved eternally: “Father God, I repent of my sins and I thank you for cleansing me with the Blood of Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, I invite you right now into my heart and I accept you as my Savior and Redeemer and I make you the Lord of my life. Holy Spirit, teach me and guide me into all truth. Thank you Father for accepting me, making me your child, and writing my name in the Book of Life. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray and I thank you. Amen!”
Now that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, Redeemer and Lord, you can ask yourself: ”And now what…?”
Now, eternal life is a reality to you. Jesus Christ is coming back, to take you to be with Him in the Rapture of the Church so you can live eternally in the joy and fullness of the Lord. |
- STEP #1: Understand that God's desire for you is life, abundant, and eternal.
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The Bible declares:
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
Giving you abundant life required the supreme sacrifice:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
God desires fellowship and companionship with you. What a wonderful gift the Father has given, yet if God gave His own Son to provide an abundant and everlasting life, why don’t more people have what He has designed for us to receive? It is a question answered by this sobering realization.
- STEP #2: Realize that you are separated from God.
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There is a gap between God and mankind. He has provided a way for us to receive an abundant and eternal life, but people throughout the ages have made selfish choices to disobey God Almighty. These choices continue to cause separation from the Father.
God’s Word shows us that the result of sin is death. He says in His Word:
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
And God also said,
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).
Paul the apostle states in Romans 3:23,
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
And in Romans 6:23 we read:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Every human was created with the ability and need to know God and fellowship with Him. Augustine, a minister who lived during the fourth and fifth centuries, called this longing in each of us "that God-shaped vacuum."
Every day we hear of people who are rich, famous, achievers, star athletes—people who seem to have the best life can offer—yet they try to fill that empty void in their lives with "things." They even try good works, morality, and religion. Yet they remain empty, for only God, through His Son, can fill that emptiness.
- STEP #3: Accept the fact that God has provided only one solution to sin and separation from Himself.
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Jesus Christ, His Son, is the only way to God. Only He can reconcile us to God the Father. Mankind may seek other solutions and worship other gods, but Jesus Christ, alone, died on the Cross for our sins and rose in triumph over the grave and eternal death. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and mankind.
The Bible explains:
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
We are also told,
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18).
There is only one way provided:
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5).
For in John 14:6 we read,
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
God Almighty has provided the only way. Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and rebellion against God by dying on the cross, shedding His blood, and rising from the dead to justify and reconcile you back to God the Father.
- STEP #4: Pray to receive Jesus Christ into your life.
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You can be brought back to God, and your relationship with Him can be restored by trusting in Christ alone to save your life from destruction. What an incredible exchange: Your worst for God’s best!
This step happens by asking Jesus Christ to take away your sin and to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior.
God’s Word is very clear:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).
And the Bible tells us,
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Are you willing to let go of your burdens and sins?
Are you willing to turn away and repent from your sins?
Are you willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior now?
- STEP #5: Make Jesus Christ your Lord!
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At this moment you can pray the most important prayer of your life by simply saying:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I believe You are the Son of God. I believe You came to earth 2,000 years ago. I believe you died for me on the cross and shed Your blood for my salvation. I believe you rose from the dead and ascended on high. I believe You are coming back again to earth. Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. Forgive my sin. Cleanse me now with Your precious blood. Come into my heart. Save my soul right now. I give you my life. I receive You now as my Savior, my Lord, and my God. I am Yours forever, and I will serve You and follow You the rest of my days. From this moment on, I belong to You only. I no longer belong to this world, nor to the enemy of my soul. I belong to You, and I am born again.
Amen!By praying this prayer, confessing your sins, and receiving Jesus Christ into your heart, God has given you the right to become His forgiven child. The Bible gives you this assurance:
"But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name" (John 1:12).
If you have just received Jesus Christ into your life, we want to rejoice with you.
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