The picture above is rather sobering, perhaps even shocking, it is meant to be. The Bible says "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement". Heb. 9:27. That is an appointment that we all must keep; that is unless we are saved by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, and we are waiting for His coming. That coming is very near, as world events seem to indicate. The Bible tells us that those who are alive on the earth when the Lord Jesus comes will not die, but will be changed. (1Cor. 15:51, and 1Thess. 4:17.)

sooner than you think it will be. You would be wise to get ready for that event now. On the morning of My dear friend do you realize that you could soon be in a box like the one pictured? It may be September 11^th 2001, 6,000 people went to their work in the World Trade Centre in Manhattan New York, and others at the Pentagon in Washington. Perhaps none of these people had the slightest idea that their lives would end that morning! But they are gone, and sadly perhaps most have gone out into a lost eternity. The Bible tells us that "we (all) must needs die". (2Sam.14:14).

A wealthy young ruler once called for an evangelist and asked him the question, "How long before death would it take for a person to be saved, and thus prepare for death". The evangelist replied," I suppose five minutes would be enough" The young man then replied, "Good, now I will live it up, and have a good time, then at the end of life I will accept Christ and His salvation". But the evangelist then replied, "Wait, when will you die?" This, the young man did not know, and was then advised to settle the matter of his souls salvation there and then. My dear friend, whether you are young or old you would be wise to do the same. Death may come sooner that you realize!

Some seek to comfort themselves by persuading themselves that death is the end of tings, that once their body is in a box like the one pictured above, and buried in a the ground as the later picture shows, then that is the end. But my dear friend it is not.

I once worked with a man who often said that once he was six feet under the ground, that would be the end of him. However that same person was terrified of death. If he went fishing in the night and saw a scorpion, or a snake, then he would not stay at the river, but go home at once. It showed that he really did not believe his own boasting.

Others say "Well I have lived a fairly good life, I have not done anybody any harm, I stand as good a chance as the rest, even better than most". Some are even proud of the good things that they imagine that they have done. But none can earn a place in the presence of the Holy God, in His heaven, by anything that they can do. Isaiah tells us that "We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses, (our good deeds), are as filthy rags." (Isaiah, 64:6.) Then what hope do we have? There is only one way to be saved, one way to be sure of a place in heaven. The Lord Jesus is the only way. He said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME." (John, 14:6) It is "Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy, He saved us." (Titus, 3:5). It is by God’s grace alone that we can be saved. (Eph. 2:8-9).

The glorious truth of the Christian Gospel is that our Lord Jesus, the sinless one, clothed Himself with our humanity, lived in this wicked world in a human body. Then at the end of thirty-three and one half years, He went to the cross of Calvary, and there He suffered and died for the lost. In doing this He bore the sins of all that trust Him as Savior, in His own body on that cruel cross. (1Pet. 2:24.) There, God poured His entire holy wrath against my sin, on my substitute, and He bore it all for me, and for you, if you are willing to trust Him as your Savior. Thus He vindicated God’s perfect righteousness, by fully meeting the claims of His law, but at the same time revealed God’s wondrous love for such as we.

He was buried, but rose from the dead on the third day, and He has gone back to heaven as our forerunner. Referring to His ascension He said, "In my Father’s house there are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go away, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also". (John, 14:2 & 3.)

My dear friend, the free and full forgiveness of all your sins, and a place in the glory of God’s heaven, can be yours now, if you will receive it. God offers it to you as a free gift, (Romans, 6:23.) Why not receive it now! You do not have to join anything, you do not have to pay anything, there are three simple steps for you to take. (As follows).

1). The first thing that God requires is that you honestly repent of your sins. That is be genuinely sorry for the bad things that you have done. To turn away from sin, to not be willing to practice sin any longer, and to confess to God, that you are a sinner. (Acts, 20:21, Acts 17:30-31.)

2). The second step is to forsake all else, and put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. To believe in your heart, that He came from heaven for you, that He died on the cross for you. To believe that He was wounded for your transgressions, He was bruised for your iniquities. (Isaiah 53:5.)

3). The third step is to receive Him by faith as your own Savior, and confess Him as your Lord. (John, 1:12, and Romans, 10:9.)

Once you have done this by praying to Him in simple prayer, and genuine faith, then thank Him that He has saved you, and turn once more to the Bible believing the assurances that He will give you from its words. Read again the passages mentioned above, and others such as, John, 5:24, Isaiah 43:1-2, Ch. 44:22-23, Romans, 8:1, John, 3:16, Acts, 16:31.. Your assurance of salvation must rest on the word of God, and not on your feelings.

If you have done this in sincerity, (not just by praying a formal prayer), but praying from your heart, then you may face the future with confidence. You have no longer any need to fear death, because you have received the gift of eternal life. Even if you die, though your physical life will end, your spiritual life will continue. You will be absent from the body and present with the Lord. You will be with Christ, which is far better. (2Cor. 5:4-8, Phil. 1:21-23). When your eyes close in death, you will immediately gain another consciousness, have another sight and hearing, you will be at home with all who have preceded you, in Paradise, the place that the Lord Jesus has prepared for all who trust Him. You may rest in the assurance that you will never come into judgement, because the Lord Jesus, whom you have trusted has born the judgement for you.

This last picture shows the coffin resting in the grave, but for you, and all who have trusted Christ as Savior, the body will not remain there. When He comes into the air for His own, the body will be raised and changed, and you with all His redeemed ones will be caught up to meet Him in the air, thus to be forever with the Lord. (1Thess, 4:13-18.) "O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory"? (1Cxor. 15:55.)

May this joy and assurance be yours! For spiritual help please contact the email address, cewigg@iprimus.com.au