Welcome to year 2016! I am excited about this year because it is my strong belief that many of you out there will make the most important decision to give our lives to Jesus. This year, and from now till His second coming, should be about the Lord and Saviour. It is my prayer that if you have not let Jesus into your life, this is the time to do so – quickly. Time is running out. And for those of you who have accepted Jesus, you have to hold fast to your faith. No more playing games with our salvation; no more laxity; it is time to be more serious with the things of God. Let us populate heaven and depopulate hell, knowing that the coming of our Lord Jesus is at hand.
And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said unto them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up to heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven would soon come in like manner as you saw Him go up into heaven. – Acts 1: 10-11.
The first chapter of Acts is a straight forward account of what happened in the early days after Jesus rose from the dead until His ascension to heaven. In verses 11 – 12 quoted above, two angels came and told the disciples what is to happen. That is: Jesus who was taken up to heaven will also come back in the same manner He ascended. That means that Jesus Christ is coming back. I have no idea when He will come back, but from what was divinely spoken, He will definitely come back.
Jesus is the Son of the living God. Some people do not believe so; but the Bible makes it clear that God the Father sent Him to die as a ransom for us so that we can be saved from destruction. He came over 2000 years ago in the image of man, was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born into the home of Mary and Joseph. He grew up normally and at the age of 30 He started His ministry of preaching, teaching, healing and casting out devils. Jesus brought the good news of salvation – that God never intended for man to perish but that we all should come to the knowledge of God and have repentance.
For three years and six months, Jesus was here on earth doing the thing that God sent Him to do. The Bible says that God anointed Him and He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil for God was with Him. At the end of His three and half years works on earth, it was time to pay the ultimate price for mankind. And He went to the cross where He was crucified – nailed to the tree of the cross, having been abused, beaten, His body bruised and torn apart for our sake. And He died, went to hell, came back, rose from the dead and began to fellowship again with His disciples.
Now, after completing His assignment, He led His disciples to the mountain. And while they were there, the heavens opened and received Him. He ascended. The
scripture tells us that the manner He went up, so would He come again to take the believers with Him to heaven.
Personally, I am excited about the second coming of Jesus Christ. My question to you is: If you are still alive by the time He is due back, what will happen to you? Where will you be? Whether Jesus meets you at His second coming or you die before He comes, it is important for you to know where you will be. There are either of two places to go – heaven, where there is eternal peace or hell, where there is everlasting torment; the place burning with sulphur and brimstone. The fire is said to be unquenchable and the pit of hell is bottomless.
Many of us do not have more than 50 years left to live on earth – no matter the exercises we do, no matter the diet and how we take care of our bodies. However, assuming that between now and the next 50 years you are still alive, what are you going to do with your life? What will you be doing with your time? Are you going to be worshipping God or are you going to be roaming the streets looking for women or men and drinking and smoking, looking for people to kill and steal from and destroy with your mouth? Maybe you will be into armed robbery or go into occultism or prostitution. Even now, you may be doing those things, but with Jesus, when you come back to Him, He will forgive you. That is the goodness of God. It does not matter who you are – you can be a native doctor, a witch, a wizard, a criminal, a prostitute – no matter how bad you are, the important thing is that you should not die that way because Jesus is coming back to take those who believe and confess Him.
The important thing, friend, is what you do with your life now. Every minute you are alive is borrowed. It is extra time. People are dying every day; it could be your turn next. Before that time is taken from you, what are you going to do with Jesus? Are you going to keep putting Him off, saying He is not real? This is not to frighten you or stop you from having your fun; but the truth is that you are going to pay for every sinful thing you do. You can do what you like, but at the end of the day, God is going to judge you based on His Son, Jesus, because He was the One that He sent to die so that when you believe in Him and accept Him, when you die, you go straight to heaven. That is the good news.
There is hope for you because of Jesus. What then should you do? You must receive Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.
The angels said: This same Jesus you see going up, you will see Him coming back. In other words, we shall see
Him face to face. But you have to be ready for Him. You cannot see Him in sin and iniquity. I am writing this to let you know and for you to do something about having Jesus in your life. Do not put Him off any more. Do not say tomorrow because tomorrow may never come. So many people said they will receive Jesus tomorrow, but they died that day – without Him. Hell is full of people who said tomorrow.
Friend, now is the time for salvation. The devil is a liar; he tells you there is tomorrow. Who says age is a determining factor in death. There are people dying at a very young age, and there are also old people still living. Age therefore has nothing to do with your salvation. Anytime you hear the good news is another opportunity to accept Christ. Some people had heard the gospel many times and had almost given their lives to Jesus, but at the last minute, they changed their mind. Do not put it off again like those people. Jesus is using this medium to call you. Come to Jesus; He has paid the ultimate sacrifice for you. He is the solution to everything. He is the Prince of peace. There is no peace anywhere else.
If you have made up your mind now to follow Jesus, kindly say this prayer, meaning it from your heart:
Lord Jesus, be merciful unto me, a sinner .I cannot help myself .I believe that You died for me. I confess that You died for me. I confess that you rose again from the dead. I also believe that You are coming back again. Today, I say yes to You and I give my life to You. Satan, I break every covenant I had with you knowingly or unknowingly from today. Your power is broken over my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Heaven is rejoicing because of you, if you truly gave your life to Christ. Know that God will never leave you nor forsake you. Three things I tell new believers like you:
1. Get yourself a Bible and begin to read from the book of John.
2. Pray to God in the name of Jesus, He will answer you.
3. Look for a good Bible-believing church where Jesus is preached and taught in spirit and in truth. Begin to grow there, and your life will never be the same.
May God bless and keep you from the power of the wicked one, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
NB: First published January 2014