If I could only visit your home, knock on your door and if you were kind enough to invite me in, here is what I would share with you. My name is Ron Halbert Sr, I am 81 years old. In my life time I have experienced and seen many things. I have seen World War 11, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan and now the atrocities in Ukraine and Israel. Otherwise, to our betterment, so many things have changed to ease the toil of our lives. I was born with outside toilets, no electricity, and no telephone. We were so excited when these three needs were met. And now to just think, we have in our hands a telephone, a camera, a computer and the world is at our fingertips. We have put a man on the moon and we are all just waiting to see what awesome technology yet awaits us.
Sad to say in those 81 years some things have not evolved to the betterment of society but have regressed greatly. Morally we are at an all-time low. Sin has flourished and you cannot read the morning newspaper without being made aware of some very sad affairs. But, enough about my introduction. The message I would like to convey relates to your knowledge concerning future things. If it would not offend you, I would like to ask a few questions about some things you might want to consider.
- There is a creator of the universe. There is a designer and builder of everything that we see. We know there was a Henry Ford, a John Deere, a Thomas Edison though we never saw nor met them. We know them for what they built and discovered, automobiles, farm implements, and electricity. We know there is God because of His creation. The Word of God relates: “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the World, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so man is without excuse. (Romans 1:20)
- The God of Creation loves you and wants to be reunited in fellowship with you. Proof of His love for mankind? He sent His Son, (actually God incarnate) to die on the cross and shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. No man ever loved us enough to die for us.
- Have you considered the fact that you will die? I am sure you are well aware that we all have an appointment with death. God’s Word relates to us “And as it is appointed unto men, once to die, and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) This verse tells us two things: 1: We are all going to die. 2. Death does not end our life as we are created with an eternal soul and spirit.
- Have you considered who Jesus Christ is? Some say a good teacher, others may say a good man but not deity. But what does the Bible say of the God-Man who healed the lepers, the blind, the lame, raised the dead, fed 5,000 with a child’s lunch, walked on water, was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and promised to come a second time: not as a sacrificial lamb but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords? God’s Word says Jesus Christ is 1. The Son of God, and 2. God incarnate, or God in Human Flesh. In the Gospel of John chapter One verse 1, we read, “In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with GOD and the WORD was GOD. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” Then, in verse 14 of that chapter, it is clarified even more, “And the WORD became FLESH (Jesus’ Birth) and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth” (John 1:1-2, 14) Thus, the Word of God teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God Incarnate. Human and Devine.
- Have you considered the consequences of our sin? As mentioned above we cannot read the morning paper or hear the nightly news without being made aware of the horrible sins that man can commit. Thus we must consider our sin! Or are you the only person who has never sinned? Here is how God looks upon His created individuals, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) No, not all have committed child abuse, murder, immorality, fornication, adultery, etc., but God says we have all fallen short of glorifying God. Since the only sinless man to rise from the grave was God Incarnate, i.e. Jesus Christ, should we not take heed to His WORD? Listen to what Jesus said to a very religious person. Perhaps you may consider yourself to hold to a religion, or a church as did this man.
“There was a man of the Pharisees (a very religious sect, for us it might be a particular Church) named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him.” Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto Him, “How can a man be born when he is old, can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily Verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water (speaking of the physical birth to be born on earth) and of the Spirit, (speaking of the spiritual birth when one accepts Christ for the remission of ones sins) he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the spirit is spirit and that which is born of flesh is flesh.. MARVEL NOT THAT I SAY UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN” (John 3:1-7) Question: Obviously you have had a physical birth, but have you had the spiritual birth that Jesus said every person must have to go to Heaven? The Spiritual birth is a life changing experience!
- The Good News is that God the Father loved us and He sent His Son, Jesus-God-Incarnate from Heaven to Earth to pay the death penalty for our sin. Jesus died on the Cross paying the penalty for every sinner. The pardon is offered as a free gift, it is not a wage for our works, for our works will not earn God’s favor and His gift of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. God’s gift is given to everyone who will 1. Repent…a change of ones mind about our sinful condition. A change of mind about Who Jesus Christ is, God Incanate…A change of mind that salvation does not come from our works and deeds but is given by God as a free gift to all who will confess and come to Him as Lord and Savior. 2. Confess our sinful need and call upon Him in child like faith and belief. Here is the promise that God gives to us: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God