Are you interested in sports—soccer, football, swimming, baseball, volleyball? If you are young, healthy and active, you may not be looking beyond this life. You may not give a thought as to the destiny of your never-dying soul, or where you will spend eternity. In your youth you may think there is plenty of time left before you come to grips with the question of your sins and of your standing before God.
The other day in suburban Chicago a fourteen-year-old high school freshman, member of the soccer team, a boy who liked to sail a boat and ride a motor bike, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Late at night he woke up and complained of feeling very sick. He had a high fever and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He was gone before they arrived. His father said it all happened within an hour and the family was still in shock.
Dear young friends, perhaps you are healthy and active, without a thought of eternity, but you are a sinner, “For all have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), and you need salvation. God wants you to be saved. He says in His Word, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).)
It’s a terribly dangerous thing to go on your way without Jesus. He is the only Saviour, and there is no salvation to be had outside of this life. If you were to step out of this world, you would be in eternity, and there is no turning back. The door would close behind you forever. “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).)
Trust in the Lord right now because, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).) If you have the Lord Jesus as your Saviour in this life, you’ll have Him forever. He will take you to be with Himself in heaven when He comes for all His own. If the boy in our story had his trust in the Lord, he is with Him now.
“Here today; gone tomorrow” is an often-heard remark. But you may be gone today! We know not what a day may bring forth! If something should happen to you, wouldn’t you want to be safe with the Lord Jesus? Then trust Him this very day.
ML-02/25/1979