Three teenagers were out riding their snowmobiles one night when they decided to ride on the ice over the pond. Open areas like the frozen pond were always such fun because they could ride so fast! However, the teens did not think about the risk they were taking, following recent mild weather. They just wanted to have fun!
Wanting to have fun is not limited to teenagers. Most people rush on in life having as much fun as they can. But very few are willing to think ahead to when their lives will end. They do not want to think that death may come at any time. They just want to have fun. Still, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
These three teens did not expect their ride would end so quickly! Suddenly, they hit open water! Their snowmobiles quickly sank and disappeared, and they found themselves in icy water and frantically swimming for the edge of the unbroken ice.
Grabbing the edge of the ice, two of the teens managed to climb out and run for help. The third one apparently couldn’t swim, because he didn’t make it.
Did he have time to prepare for eternity? We don’t know what goes through a person’s mind just before they drown. But the Bible warns us not to wait until we are face to face with death: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 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)). And the Bible also warns us not to wait until we grow old: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)).
How important it is to prepare for eternity right now! “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
ML-08/08/1999