Have you ever been summoned to the boss's office, expecting the worst, only to be praised and offered a promotion? Have you felt that all was going well in studies and preparation, then failed the test? Have you ever forgotten to appear for an interview or to respond to a court summons?
Regardless of your hectic schedule or age, God has arranged for you to fulfill two specific appointments. What you are, what you do, and what you believe now directly affect the outcome of those appointments. You will not miss them!
Meetings of Destiny
God has summarized your predestined appointments in one succinct statement: "It is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
These are your two inescapable appointments! Consider them, and ask yourself: "Am I now ready? If I should die today, am I ready for that appointment? If I die, am I ready for the appointment of being judged? How serious ought I to be about these questions?"
An Awesome Judgment
Jesus said, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). God "has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness" (Acts 17:31). Today is the day of mercy, but "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Paul said, "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). We read also "The soul who sins will die" (Ezekiel 18:4) and "Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point he has become guilty of all" (James 2:10). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "So death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12).
Whether we like to think of it or not, we face the reality of death not being far off, and this followed by judgment, which will see us exonerated or condemned.
Only One Way Out
There is only one escape from eternal death: faith in Christ, pardon of sins through personal repentance, and baptism (Acts 2:38). "The conclusion, when all has been heard is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). You may now hide your sins from others, but God has them on record. One day not far from now your intimate life will be held out as an open book. Without Christ's righteousness to cover those sins, will that day mean eternal life or eternal death?
Your Choice-Now!
Right this moment, you have the privilege of choice: eternity with God, or the pleasures of this life, trying to enjoy moral irresponsibility. God has "set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity" (Deuter-onomy 30:15). He is "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sins so you would not have to (Hebrews 2:9). Only through His death in your place can you receive forgiveness and removal of sin (Ephesians 1:7), because there is salvation in no one else (Acts 4:12). Today, in the eyes of God you have the opportunity of erasing your sinful past and beginning all over again as though you had never sinned (Colossians 1:21, 22). Will you still have that privilege tomorrow?
You are Choosing-Now!
Just as death cannot be avoided, there is no way to escape God's judgment. These two appointments have been scheduled; they will take place. All of us will be there. Why remove these appointments from your list of things to be concerned about? Why deceive yourself and lose your own soul? Why pretend that these appointments are only for somebody else? The obituary column runs daily; one day your name will be there!
Where Do You Stand?
Please never deceive yourself into thinking that you need not repent and that you have no need for Jesus to have died in your place. Our Creator made not only us, but also the rules by which we live, die, and are resurrected to face judgment. He says that all have sinned and are condemned to die. You are included in that death sentence. To deny it is to assume you know more about life, more about death, more about truth, and more about the outcome of all things than God our Creator knows!
God asserts about His rules that "through the Law comes the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). We are warned "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty" (James 2:12). Before you carelessly pass this off as mythical religion, you should look intently into His holy law (James 1:25; Exodus 20:1-17). Whether we like His law or not, the eternal God will finally judge you and me by it!
The Time is Now
Why not approach the Judge and get things straightened out today? His bench is easily approached. He listens sympathetically to those who throw themselves on the mercy of His court. It is His plan, His hope, for you to accept His mercy and be pardoned.
His loving command is still clear: "Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! for why will you die?" (Ezekiel 18:30, 31).
Will you repent? Will you change your lifestyle and live according to God's principles? Will you allow Christ to be your Savior now? The decision for eternal life and joy is in your own hands. You are responsible to make that decision. Jesus died so you could have everlasting life: What more important business could you possibly have than to accept this offer now?
Keep in mind these two important, unavoidable appointments with God: death, then judgment in His court. In His court, no witnesses are needed, for He knows the truth about us all. There, no jury can act out of sympathy and prevent justice. God does not have to ask about motives; He knows them. He does not have to weigh extenuating circumstances or excuses; there are none for those who do not acknowledge their sin and accept Christ's death in our place.
How will you meet these two appointments; prepared or unprepared? Isn't it
worth a careful decision?
Consider praying this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I need You. I know that I am a
sinner in need of Your forgiveness. I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I ask
You to come into my life right now and cleanse me. I trust You as my Lord and
Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen."
