About 10 years ago, I found a camera that I absolutely wanted. The original price had been almost $1000. It was reduced to about half of that. I had points on my credit card to cover a large portion of the rest. I also had some money that I had received as a gift. By the time I was done with the discount, the points, and the birthday money, I only needed about $100.
Most offers do have an expiration date! I would have been sick if I had missed out on that one. How many offers have you missed out on?
That camera was a deal that I could not pass up! I knew that I would save that $100 in the long run because this new camera was digital! No longer would I have to spend money on film processing and a full set of prints when I wanted pictures of our children. Freedom from the processing expense and promises of more fun and more photos made it all worth it. No buyer’s remorse for me! Savings and rewards abound!
Today, the lost are faced with a much more important opportunity – salvation and rewards. That offer, like most, does have an expiration date.
When is that elusive expiration date? Without getting into end time prophecy, it is sufficient to say that you could die at any moment. Your expiration date and the expiration date of the offer could come at anytime.
If you are not a Christian, let me say that I’ve talked with many such folks. Some measure life by their standards. Some even believe that they can make choices for themselves in eternity. Nothing is further from the truth.
If you are not saved, consider this. You did not get here by yourself. You cannot control when you will die. If you believe that you have any control over where you go from here, ask yourself what you are basing that on. What frame of reference have you?
One day, we all will stand before God.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:9-12
“Work out your own salvation…” We are not talking about good works here. We’re talking about getting right with God and staying that way. We’re talking about accepting Jesus as your Savior.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to pray about the instruction given us in Philippians. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Are you saved? Are you sure? A part of salvation is repentance. When you repent, you not only are sorry for the sins you committed, but you turn from doing those things. Maybe you said a prayer in the past, but you never really meant that you wanted to live for Jesus with Him as Lord of your life. Again, I encourage you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.