BOLD PURSUITShembull

On average, around 333,000 people die every day. We don’t know when we’ll be part of that statistic. James said, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

We can’t take life for granted, and we can’t ignore what comes next. Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is destined for people to die once and after this comes judgment.” Every one of us will face judgment when we die, and this reality needs to sink in so that we will be prepared for it. Most of us like to believe that we’re good people, that the things we’ve done right in this world outweigh the things we’ve done wrong. And we have a list of good works to prove the point.

To that, Isaiah would say, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6). All the good works in the world are not good enough and cannot save us. Only Jesus can.

Ephesians 2:8–10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Putting our faith in Christ is the only way to escape eternal punishment when we die. After we put our faith in Christ, our good works are evidence of our faith.

To prepare for the end of this life, we must first make sure that we will spend our next life in God’s presence forever. Second, we must live each day according to God’s will, and that includes sharing the gospel. I have met many Christians who told me after the death of a loved one that the one thing they regret most is not effectively sharing the good news of Jesus with their loved one. It is selfish to think only of our own salvation and not use the time that we are given to share the gospel with those around us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Please help me live in a way that reflects my love and service to You, and be with me as I share the gospel. Amen.