Wednesday, 7/24/19 – Pressing on…

You will die, probably.

Probability experts tell us the likelihood of you…

Winning the $1 billion ‘Mega Millions’ = 1: 88,000,000,000,000,000
Winning the $345 million ‘Powerball’ lottery = 1: 292,000,000
Being killed in a plane crash = 1: 11,000,000
Getting struck by lightning in any given year = 1: 700,000
Finding a four-leaf clover = 1: 10,000
Getting hit by a meteorite = 1: 3,000
Being born on Feb. 29 (leap year day) = 1: 1,461
Cracking open a double-yoked egg  = 1: 1,095
Being truly ambidextrous = 1: 100
Dying = 1: 1

This past Sunday Don Longworth reminded us of the certitude of that last ratio – the probability that you will die has been, is currently, and always will be precisely 100%. One out of every one person will die. 1 billion out of every 1 billion will die. It is an appointment each of us will keep.

“Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27 – NLT)

Are you thinking you don’t need to be bothered about the judgment because you’ll be dead? Well, “you” won’t be dead. Your body will be dead but “you” are an eternal soul — an eternal soul.

This is why death is such an unsettling thing. People often dismiss death saying it is “natural.” But death is not natural. Our Creator never designed death into His creation. We put it there! We sinned, and death became our penalty. Think of it: every truly “natural” thing feels good to us…is good for us: food & drink, fellowship, sleep, sex, sunshine, and meaningful work. But death seems completely wrong. And it is wrong. Of all He created God said “It is good.” But darkness and death He did not create. Darkness and death are consequences of sin.

Remember: you do not “have” a soul… you are a soul, and just now you have a body. But that body will die… with 100% certitude, and after that, as scripture says, we souls will each have a chat with our Creator.

Don’s message to us is urgent because it tells us the one thing we must do to be ready for that day. We must repent. Not probably, but certainly. We must turn around, face Christ Jesus, move toward Him and away from sin.

You can be sure of it!

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Heb. 9:27,28)

Press on…

To hear Don Longworth’s complete message, go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website and look under ‘Media’ for the July 21 message.