Eternity awaits

Oh my, what a life we live. What a gift each day is that comes our way and how often do we cherish it? One major event has brought this to the forefront of my mind. A dear friend of mine (and of many others) has slipped into the arms of Jesus after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer this past Saturday morning. She was an amazing woman, loved deeply by her husband, children, and friends. She did not publicly complain about all of the negative effects of treatment, she just privately endured what came her way. She loved her Lord and His name was on her lips whenever we spoke. What an example of humility and perseverance, longsuffering and grace she was. To know her more was to love her more... I am grateful to have known her.

I don't think we can say "I love you" enough to those we truly love.

I don't think we can hold hands too much, smile too much, or laugh too much.

Sing when you feel like it , dance in the rain often, and love like there's no tomorrow.

For those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we need to live recklessly abandoned to hope- the blessed hope of Christ's return and the bodily resurrection of those who have gone on before.

For those of you who do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, let me share with you the hope that lies within me ( and my dear friend Linda) from God's Word. You see, this life is not all there is... eternity is our destination.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
You and I need a Savior because we cannot meet God standards of holiness.

Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned."
Because Adam and Eve sinned, all men share in the fallen condition of sin.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Death is the consequence for sin but God sent His own Son to die on the cross for sinners.

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Christ willingly paid the penalty for your sin and mine, He was the perfect spotless Lamb. On the third day He rose again victorious over sin and death then ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Romans 10:9-10 "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
We cannot reach up to God but He reached down to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's not enough to believe in God or heaven. We must surrender our lives and hearts through faith in Jesus Christ. At this point our lives are no longer our own, we have given over the "controls" to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Friends, there is no greater joy that to live a life that is dead to sin and alive to God! No one knows what day or time they will pass away. Do you know where you will be spending eternity? I know I will be seeing Linda again and praising God with her in heaven one day.

Won't you surrender to the Lord Jesus today?