Let me tell you first that God wants you to spend eternity in fellowship with Him. God loves you and He wants your
life to have purpose and meaning.
In the Bible God says: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10
Eternity, it’s not something most of us think about, or for that matter like to think
about. Yet in the law enforcement profession we are regularly confronted by death and the question crosses our
mind; what comes next?
Recently Riverside, California Detective Charles Douglas "Doug" Jacobs III was shot and killed while he assisted another officer on a loud music call. In South Carolina Lance Corporal David Travis Bailey was killed in a car accident while chasing a speeding vehicle. In Washington DC Officer Marlon Morales was questioning a man who had pushed his way through a subway faregate without paying. Suddenly, without warning, the man pulled a gun and shot the 32-year-old officer in the head. In fact A total of 1,555 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the last 10 years, an average of one death every 57 hours or 156 per year. Across the country there were 150 police deaths in 2000. Already for 2001 the number of police officers killed in the line of duty rose by roughly 10 percent during the first half of the year. Preliminary statistics show that 81 officers were killed nationwide during the first six months of 2001, and that number was almost doubled in a single day on September 11th. I wonder how many of these officers had thought about where they would spend eternity before their sudden and untimely deaths?
It seems that more and more we wear the "black tape" across our badge. In fact if we wore "the mourning tape" whenever a U.S. Peace Officer is killed we would never take the mourning tape off.
Ultimately whether we consider the possibilities of an untimely death or not, we must consider the current statistics on death. Every 1 out of 1 person born today will at sometime during their life, die.
Several years ago the popular saying "he who dies with the most toys wins" was everywhere. I ask you, wins what?
In the Bible (Luke 12:16-20) Jesus tells a story about a rich man who thinking he was set for years to come. The man said to his soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat drink and be merry." But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?"
No one knows when their soul will be required. If your soul were required today, if you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity? Jesus promised that to all who accept and believe in Him He gives the gift of eternal life, in Heaven with Him.
I challenge you to answer the question; where will I spend eternity? If your answer to this important question is I don’t know, then please read on!
The Bad News... willful disobedience to God, or indifference to
God (called sin) separates us from God, forever. Those who die separated from God will spend eternity away from
God (the Bible calls this hell).
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
And this is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus Christ) and announce to you, that
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Since the earliest times of man, people have tried to live up to God's standards through good works or by living a moral lifestyle. People have also tried to fill their internal need for God through religion, philosophy or material things.
More Bad News...nothing we do in our own strength can even come
close to reaching a position of fellowship with God. Further nothing we possess and nothing we do will fill the
void, or empty, meaningless feeling that we see in our life, when we deeply examine ourselves.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36,37
The Great News... God loves you and He has provided a way to have
fellowship with Him on this earth and to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Because we could not reach to God,
God has reached down to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to earth in the form of a man. Jesus Christ lived among us, and while He was tempted by all that we were, He lived a perfect life. His perfect life allowed Jesus to die as a sacrifice for all of our disobedience (sin). Jesus Christ, an innocent man, was crucified on a cross, then three days later He rose from the dead, forever conquering death and sin.
Jesus Christ paid a debt that he did not owe, so that we could be freed from a debt that we could not pay.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all. I Timothy 2:5
Jesus said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6
In order to accept this free gift from God and enter into fellowship with Him, both on this earth and for eternity, all we have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and accept or receive Him as our Savior.
For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; Romans 10:9
How to receive Jesus Christ:
1. Admit that you need God.
2. Be willing to turn from your disobedience (sins).
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
4. Pray (simply talk to God) and invite Jesus Christ to come into your life. Ask God to change your life through
His Holy Spirit.
What is prayer?
Prayer is talking with God. God is everywhere, and He will hear you whether you pray outloud, silently, with your eyes closed, with your eyes open, on your knees, or standing. The position of your body is not important, what is important to God is the condition or sincerity of your heart.
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ right now, then simply pray a prayer like this:
Dear God,
I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I am willing to turn from my sins and follow You. I ask Jesus Christ to come into my life, to become my personal Savior, and to change my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life and make me the person that You want me to be. Amen.
If you just prayed that prayer then God has entered into fellowship with you, and angels are rejoicing. You might be feeling excitement, or you might not be feeling anything special at all. Do not depend on feelings. If you sincerely prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, then God now dwells within you, regardless of your feelings. You can know God dwells within you because God's Word, the Bible, says so.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I
will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
Now that you have accepted Jesus Christ and entered into a fellowship with God, what next?
You have been born again. Like a child you now need to grow, but unlike a child it will not happen automatically. Spiritual growth involves trusting in Jesus Christ each and every moment of each and every day.
God has given us His word (the Bible) and you need to read it every day. To a Christian the Bible is food and just like you would not neglect your physical body by not eating, you should not neglect your spirit by not feeding it God's Word. Start by reading the Gospel of John.
Another activity that you need to engage in is prayer. God tells us to pray without ceasing. Talk with God about everything that is on your heart, and remember to confess your sins to Him.
A third activity, that is of the utmost importance, is fellowship. Find a good church and attend regularly. Each of us needs the fellowship of fellow believers.
If you go to our Christian Links page you will find further information and ministries that can help you grow in your new relationship with God.
Finally, make sure that you tell someone about your decision to accept Jesus Christ. We at Iron Sharpens Iron would like to know if you have accepted Jesus Christ, please e-mail us. If this has stirred questions within you, but you do not yet feel ready to make a decision, or if you have further questions, please contact us.
This page was last updated 18 December 2001
A new millennium, yes. A new Jesus, no. For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.