Eternal Soul

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27

People, please wake up and give attention to your eternal soul. We give attention to everything else but it. We give attention to what we are going to eat, drink, wear, our education, career, relationships, entertainment, hobbies, and so on.  And there is nothing wrong with tending to the things that pertain to life. But the most important thing we need to give attention to, we are neglecting.

We act like we are going to live here on earth forever. We aren't. We all have an appointment with death, but it is an appointment unlike our other appointments-- we don't know when the appointment time is.  It could come anytime.  It comes when we are least expecting it.  It can come when we are busy taking care of business.  It can come while we are making plans for the next day.  It can come while we are asleep.  It comes to the infant, the toddler, teenagers, adults, the elderly.  It comes to the rich and the poor; the unknown and affluent; male and female; black and white.  It comes to every nationality. It comes to everyone at some point in time.  Non are exempt!

Since it is inevitable and we don't know when it might occur, why are we neglecting to make preparation for it?! Contrary to what mankind believes, there is a heaven and a hell, and one of these will be your final destination. When you die, you will go to one or the other. They are real.  They do exist. When you die, you don't just cease to exist.  You don't just go to sleep and never wake up again.  You don't come back in another form and try to do better.

Also, contrary to popular belief, not everyone is going to heaven. Jesus said the way was straight and narrow that leads there and few would be on that road. The beliefs of mankind say that we are all going to heaven, or some sort of eternal state/place of bliss.  Not true!

Popular belief also says that all you have to do is be good and you will go to heaven.  It says that there are many ways that lead to eternal life and it doesn't matter which one you choose, we are all winding up in the same place in the end.  It tells us that we are all children of God so we will all be with Him throughout eternity. It tells us that all we have to do is be a church-goer, pay tithes, work in the church, get baptized in water, join a church, do some sort of religious acts like dressing a certain way, singing certain church songs, abstain from going to this place or that place, read through the Bible once a year, fast twice a week, make a trek to some holy place, bow before some shrine, show kindness, take care of others, be born in a Christian nation, don't cheat, lie or steal, and so the list goes on of religious acts that do not secure eternal life for us. 

I know this is lengthy this morning, but I am making an appeal to you-- don't neglect your eternal soul! That is the most important thing you will ever do.  This life is short, but eternity never ends.  And if you don't make it to heaven, you will go to hell.  Again, contrary to popular belief, there is not a party going on in hell.  It is a place of torment unlike anything the latest horror movie can portray.  The torment is indescribable... and it never stops.  Once you are there, you never get out. You can't bank on a lie that hell isn't real and that you won't go there. 

You can't ignore your eternity. It will come upon you before you know it and you don't want to be unprepared to meet it.  As I said, you either will spend eternity in heaven or in hell.  The truth is we are all on our way to hell... ever since Adam sinned in the garden. No one can make it to heaven.. period!  But because there is a God of love and mercy, Who doesn't want anyone going to hell, He gave us a way of escape.  He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to make a way for us to receive eternal life and go to heaven. Faith and surrender to Jesus is the ONLY way that leads to eternal life.  No amount of work or good deeds will get you there.  The road is paved with blood.. the blood of Jesus and you must put your trust in what He did at the cross in order to get on that road. 

Nicodemus was a religious leader, teacher of the law and religious authority figure during the time of Jesus and Jesus told him he had to be born-again.  All his good deeds and religious understanding and service in the temple would not save him. Being born-again is not just a mere belief in Jesus.  It isn't just turning over a new leaf.  It isn't just simply changing your mind.  It is acceptance... accepting that Jesus is the way of eternal life.  It is an act of faith. It is repenting of your sins and asking for the life of God to be imparted to you.  When you are born-again, you are made into a new person.  You have been born into the family of God.  God is then your Father and you should resemble your Heavenly Parent.  You should act, respond, talk and live like He is your Father. If you are no different, if there is no "family resemblance" in your life, if there is nothing about you that is like Jesus, then it is very doubtful that you have been born-again.  You have to be born-again not just become religious.

Again, I am making an appeal to you not to put off the eternal security of your soul.  I am calling out to the prodigals today as well... it is time to come home.  It is time to get up out of the "pig-pen" of self-living and come back to the Father's house. (He will welcome you with open arms.) Please, please don't neglect your eternal soul.  Again, contrary to popular belief, there are no second chances after you leave this earth through death. You will not be able to redo it.  It will be final.  Don't put it off until tomorrow. We aren't promised tomorrow. You may not have tomorrow.  Do it while you can.