Choices Today Determines Future Destiny

The Holy Bible  (The Contemporary English Version – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10): Our Lord Jesus will punish anyone who doesn't know God and won't obey his message. ⁹ Their punishment will be eternal destruction, and they will be kept far from the presence of our Lord and his glorious strength. ¹⁰ This will happen on that day when the Lord returns to be praised and honored by all who have faith in him and belong to him. This includes you, because you believed….


Thoughts:  I believe that the topic given to our study today could actually apply to any choice that we make today, but I want to zone in on the choices we make about whether we accept Jesus as Lord or not. First of all, I will break the easy, but worse news. If you make no choice about your salvation, then you are in the first group that Paul refers to in this scripture today. For Jesus will return for those who have made a conscious, clear and definite personal decision to accept Him as Lord. Unfortunately friend, when you decline the invitation to accept Jesus as Lord, you are openly accepting the call of Satan to be his follower, and this will lead to eternal damnation for you – far from the presence of our Lord Jesus. Not pretty. Very unfortunate. I would hate to see this for anyone that I know, care about or had opportunity to witness to. The only ones not fitting into this category, are those who have made a personal commitment to accept and obey Jesus while alive here on planet earth. These precious folk will represent the welcome party for the return of Jesus, for we will be the ones honoring and praising Jesus for returning to earth to take us home to glory with Him! Oh what singing, oh what shouting, on that happy morning! So I believe that it is evident that our choice about our eternal destiny is actually put in place while we are alive. Any idea how long you will be alive friend? Isn't it astonishing how many young folk die through accidents or illnesses these days? Isn't it true that we have no idea how much longer we will live here on this old earth? Doesn't this leave you with a sense of urgency about securing your ultimate destiny while your life here is a sure thing – a current moment thing? Don't delay friend, I would love to know that you will be among the praising and rejoicing before our Lord Jesus on the day that only His Father knows the details about!


Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for yet another reminder about decisions that must be made while there is still life in our bodies - today. This is way too important for procrastination. Way too important, with so many unfortunate repercussions to not care about making such a commitment. Thank You for softening my heart to surrender my life to You some 39 years ago. I am concerned about family and friends that I don't get to spend near enough time with here on earth. I love them enough that I want to see Your very best for them, and I care enough about them that I would never want to see them face eternal destruction in Hell. May I please ask that You soften their hearts, like You did to mine, and lead them to all Truth, all Grace and Your all-sufficient, sacrificial Love, provoking them to a decision to accept You as Lord today? I would be eternally grateful dear Lord. Please provoke Christians meditating on this devotional today to a deep desire to pray for their loved ones also. We want to see You dear Lord, and we badly want our loved ones to be with us on that all important day. Your grace is enough, oh Lord. So I place my faith and trust in You believing that Your ultimate will might be accomplished today, AMEN!


 
FOOTNOTE:  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day's devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!