Are You Prepared?

Richard Hollerman

This morning, as I thought about the fact that we are all on our way to the grave, I knew that it is utterly vital that we know now that we are n the “narrow way” that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). The only thing we can be absolutely sure of is to know that we are right with God now and that He will carry us through to the “other side” of death. Are you prepared?

There are some considerations that you might consider regarding this. They are ones that I too have gone over with much profit.

First, we know that this world didn’t just appear without eternal force or causation. Scripture says that this world, with all of its intricacies, didn’t just evolve. It didn’t appear out of nothing. No, it was created. This life (with its happiness but also with much grief, sickness, deformity) is all there is, so says the atheist. No, this is only a very brief prelude to eternity!

The psalmist was correct when he said, “I shall not die, but live” (Psalm 118:17a). A woman I knew years ago was in the hospital. When I visited her, she said that she had read this verse in the Bible. And she believed it! She thought that she would “survive” her illness. But she, like everyone else, needed to die and meet her Creator!

Remember also the reassuring and enlightening words of the Lord Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die” (John 11:25-26). This is the sort of promise that can be dear to us at the point of death! Christ will raise us and give us eternal life!

Second, if you are like me, you long for a relief and look forward to this release from temporal impediments. We want to experience everlasting bliss in a Better Land where there will be no pain, anguish, unfulfillment, sorrow, loneliness, and regret. (Revelation 21:4) But we all know that only the very few will find this sort of eternal blessedness. Sadly, most will be cast off from God eternally, with no possibility of altering our circumstances. Instead of bliss, there will be anguish. Instead of pleasure, there will be unending pain. Instead of fellowship with God, there will be separation from Him. This is reality, a reality that awaits us—unless we repent.

As I walk through life I am aware (as surely you must be) that the vast majority just think that they will live a rather comfortable life here and then be ushered into a sweet life in the eternal presence of God. They think that they will be able to “hold on” until this life is over and then face the future with God. Yes, we assume that they think that they will not only go to be with God, but they will be with their relatives and friends. They will be with those they lost in the past. They will be given the delights that they knew in this life—the green hills, the vast open lands, the towering mountains, the surging seas and pounding surf. They will be surrounded by exotic animals and perhaps also by their sweet tiny kitten and loyal dog. But, sadly, this is a vain hope that will never be fulfilled.

The vast majority will never know these earthly delights. They will be separated from God, the Creator and Maker, not merely for time but for eternity. They will never know the delights mentioned above. Separation will be their lot. (See Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Matthew 7:23; Luke 16:24; cf. Jude 7.) We plead with you to come to God for His forgiveness while we may!

Third, we know that there is a philosophy called pluralism. It is a false philosophy that says that there are many “roads” that lead from this earth to God and His eternal realm. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pluralism). It is akin to universalism that asserts that eventually all human beings will be saved. All will go to be with God. None will be cast off from Him. Hopefully, those who read these words realize that both of these systems are false—utterly bankrupt.

But, sad as it may be, millions of people do accept the view that claims that God will accept us regardless of our understanding or lack of understanding, regardless of our views, regardless of our belief in Him and His ways, regardless of Christ and His saving work. In fact, millions do think that they can just reject God and His ways here and He will graciously accept us. They think that He is like an indulgent grandfather who will overlook the transgressions and evils that surround us and that we participate in and still the Lord will receive us into the “pearly mansions” one day!

If this were true (and it is not), then we might as well throw out God’s direct, inerrant, authoritative, and regulatory Word! If God is this indulgent and lenient, we can merely overlook His will, reject His commands, turn from His perfect ways, and close our eyes to Him. But, we know that this is not a “god” that we can respect. In fact, this is false, a “figment” of a sinful human being. We can only respect the “true and living God” who made the world and us humans and will one day “judge the world in righteousness” through Christ Jesus (Acts 17:31).

Much more could be said, of course, but we can see that God, our Creator and our Savior, will either receive us through Christ and His saving work or He will reject us because of unforgiven sin. It is either one. One or the other. What will it be for you?