The Last Day

When Nate woke up on October 3, 2017, he did not know that he would meet Jesus face to face later that day. He didn’t know the shower that he took that morning would be his last. As he walked out of the house, he never thought that the next time he would see his father and brothers would be in eternity. When his mother dropped him off at a teammate's house, his goodbye would be forever on this earth.

Friend, know that it is Jesus who holds power over death. He determines when your life on this earth ends. When your soul passes from your body into eternity, will you meet him with joy or will you be filled with fear and remorse for denying him?

Whether you are 16 or 90, it's never too soon, or too late, to waken to faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now is the time to prepare in earnest for eternity. No one will escape death. In Luke 23:43, Jesus said this to the thief on the Cross “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” God gave you today as a gift of mercy. Each minute that ticks off the clock is a minute closer to your last day on this earth. What will you do with the time God gives you from this point forward?

These words by Isaac Watts, the great hymn writer (Joy to the World and 600+ other hymns) are from a book he wrote entitled "The World to Come." In the beginning chapters, Watts focuses on the importance of being awake in your faith, as contrasted with being asleep. These words are from a chapter that included a message Watts gave at the funeral of a young woman and the realization that God can call us home at any time:

"This providence is an awful warning piece to all her young acquaintance to be ready for a sudden removal; for she was of a healthy make, and seemed to stand at as great distance from the gates of death as say of you: but the firmest constitution of human nature is born with death in it."

For those of us who have lost a child, these words by Watts are especially comforting:

"When we mourn the death of friends who were prepared for an early summons, let their preparation be our support. Blessed be God they were not found sleeping! While we drop out tears upon the grave of any young Christian who was awake and alive to God, that blessedness which Christ himself pronounces upon them is a sweet cordial to mingle with our bitter sorrows, and will greatly assist to dry up the spring of them."

Our hope and prayer is that if you are reading this, and you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that your heart will be changed today. If your faith is weak, if you're sleeping, that your faith is awakened and that you would rededicate your remaining days to serve him.

Isaiah 55:6–7

“Seek the LORD while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (ESV)