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Setting Aside One Day to Consider Eternity

Time is of the essence. And like most people today, you may find yourself a little short on time. So much to do, and so little time to do it. But this idea is well worth your time to consider. It could change your life on earth, as well as the quality of your existence in "the next realm."

The Bible and Christianity have survived in spite of all the attacks they have come under over the centuries. And no one is like Jesus in history. I think you can agree with that statement, at least if you are somewhat open-minded.

When it comes to the Christian faith, the stakes couldn't be higher. Your eternal soul goes to one of two places. In heaven, no one gets bored and everyone is jubilant all the time. In hell, no one gets an ounce of satisfaction or a moment of relief from the agony. It's mind-boggling to consider spending eternity in either place.

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So I have an idea for you. And I assure you, it is the best investment of a day you could ever make.

Get ahold of some Christian resources which address your questions about the Lord. And dig into them. Open the Bible. Read the Gospel of John. Try to put yourself in the world of that day. And allow your mind to consider Christianity, and especially the aspect of eternal joy as compared to eternal punishment.

Before you "bet your soul" that the Bible isn't true, couldn't you afford one day to seriously think about it? Couldn't you afford one day in time to consider those two places where there is a gate through which to enter, but no gate through which to leave? Or are you 100% sure that heaven and hell don't exist? Really? So you're an absolutist then, are you? I doubt it.

Do you realize how insane it is to approach the topic of "eternity" flippantly? In a world that screams "no" to the idea of spiritual absolutes, you are in danger of going with the flow and laughing off any possibility that heaven and hell as described in the Bible are real. Will you set aside a day to at least think about the potential consequences of belief, and unbelief? Isn't your soul worth a day? And even if you think you don't have a soul, will you at least admit that you could be wrong?

So you're an absolutist then, are you? I doubt it.

It is crazy to speed through life while ignoring the opportunity to think about the roadmap to an eternal future. This is especially true given all the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible. Try to find any other "holy book" with even one fulfilled prophecy. Good luck, because that's what it will take to find such a book. In the real world of science, facts and Christianity, there is no luck. If you are in God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, God doesn't leave your life to "chance" or "luck." And if you are not in His family, there are other spiritual forces out there which operate on a level higher than "chance" or "luck." You are either in with God, or under the spell of those other forces. That is what the Bible teaches.

I know. You say you don't believe the Bible. So you're an absolutist then, are you? I doubt it.

You just think you are an absolutist in one area and only one area. Do you even realize why you feel so convinced that the Bible is wrong about heaven and hell? Have you taken time to investigate it from sources which present Christianity accurately?

One day of reflection. What have you got to lose? You probably have thousands of days left in your life on earth. Just take one of them to consider eternity. That's all. But make sure you read material that presents Christianity as seen in the eyes of true believers, rather than in the eyes of skeptics and doubters to the faith. How ironic that those doubters claim to be convinced of only one thing - namely, the rejection of heaven and hell as presented in the Bible.

And you know what? For some bizarre reason, they want you to throw caution to the wind and accept their premise. It will make them feel better and more secure about their decision to reject the Bible and Christianity. Misery loves company, and it is a miserable existence to ignore and even attack heaven and hell out of an inner fear that it just might be true. That is why some skeptics are so outspoken in their rejection of Christianity. They fear the possibility of it. And you know what? If I did not know Christ as my Savior, I would probably be right there with them in that outspoken rejection of a message as extreme as eternal joy and eternal punishment.

I mean really. Who in their right mind could ever believe such a thing? You would have to be crazy, right? Or at least under the influence of higher revelation from the holy One.

In the words of the prophet Hosea: "Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac." (Hosea 9:7) It is our sin which blinds us from seeing the truth about God and the way of salvation. But that didn't stop God from sending out messengers to reach us with the truth. Jesus said, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46,47)

Over the past 2000 years, some have believed, while others have "written off Christ" without even seriously considering the message. How easily man is deceived, misled, and tripped up even before spending as little as one day "on the case" for Christ. Tragic really. What else would you call it?

So remember. The Gospel of John and Christian material written by convinced and genuine believers. Just one day. What could it hurt? It's such a small investment of time for such a magnificent return. After all, no one wants to be wrong about eternity, right?

Dan Delzell is the pastor of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb. He is a regular contributor to The Christian Post.

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