A certain attorney did all his business on a "Cash only" basis. Whenever a client sought his advice or service he was told, "Cash only, and up front!" He accepted no checks, and no charge cards either. His bookkeeping was astonishingly simple: "Cash in and cash out."
The Internal Revenue Department became suspicious of his system, for he would simply stuff money into his pockets, giving no receipts, and operated on a no-record basis. His books had two columns: "cash in," and "cash out." He was investigated by the income tax people, but no action was taken against him and they never were able to compel him to adopt a different accounting system.
He was a very ungodly man who hated the name of Jesus. At the mention of that name, regardless of when or where, he would spit in disgust. Finally, his time came and he died. His lifeless body was found at his desk in his office with his head on his arms and his pockets stuffed with money. He was in ETERNITY. He had cashed out for the last time.
But that is not the end of his story, nor is it for anyone. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).
He had made provision for his funeral and burial, all to be dictated by tradition. Yet he had "cashed out" of all opportunity to enter heaven; the most traditional funeral could not usher him into heaven, nor could he buy his way in with all his money. "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth forever.)" Psa. 49:6-96They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. (Psalm 49:6‑9).
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (except for the One who gave him that wisdom, the man Christ Jesus) wrote: "There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.... As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return.... And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?" Eccl. 5:13-1613There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. 16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind? (Ecclesiastes 5:13‑16).
Heaven is a gift of God by grace. You cannot buy it and you cannot merit it by any amount of works. Only by the sacrifice of God's own Son, Jesus Christ, who died for sinners, may heaven be yours. That attorney could not "cash in" to heaven when he had "cashed out" of this life. Only God knows, but it is most likely that he "cashed in" to hell when he "cashed out" of this world. Surely God saw that man spit at the mention of His Son's name!
It did not have to be; that man had heard of the way of salvation, and the mercy of God could have reached even to him if he had only been willing to receive it. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:11, 1211He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:11‑12).
Today if ye hear
His voice,
harden not your hearts.
The time
is at hand.
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