End Of The World 2012

Another year has just slipped past and Christmas Day has now been and gone.  Maybe you had a great one.  Maybe your Christmas was the pits!  There is so much hope and expectation build up at Christmas that we often put unnecessary pressure on ourselves.  True or not true.  Be honest.  Christmas usually brings thoughts of: special times with family and friends; time out from the challenges of life; presents; carols; holidays; nice weather (please); rest; food; and some health and money left over at the end.

Christmas is a time of hope. And whether you’re “religious” or not, one of the things most hoped for is peace. No normal person wakes up in the morning and hopes the day will be filled with chaos! Especially not on Christmas day! We want “peace on earth” (Luke 2:1-19). * But what exactly is that and how do you get it? Is it through financial security, a happy family, a good job, good relationships, staying out of trouble, a tidy house and property, doing good, loving your enemy...?

This is an invitation to know true peace on earth in the next 5 minutes. It begins with an invitation to consider if the path in life you’re on now, will lead YOU to peace in heaven or to perish in hell (after you die). It starts with a question: Would you consider yourself a Good Person? Most people do. But would you be good enough for heaven? The way to find out is to ask yourself if you have kept God's moral law, the ten commandments. Here's a quick test based on just four of those commandments (Exodus 20:1-20). See how you do...

Have you ever told a lie, no matter how big? Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value? Have you ever used God's name in vain (blasphemy)? Jesus taught that if you look with lust (sexually) you commit adultery in your heart. Have you looked with lust? Who can honestly say they have kept these commandments! (Romans 3:20-23).

If you have done those things, God (who is Holy) sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. And you will have to face God on Judgement Day! (Hebrews 4:12-13 and 9:27, Revelation 20:12). You will be judged for every word, deed and thought.

If God judged you by His standards, would you be innocent or guilty on the day of judgement? If you're honest, you know you’d be guilty. Would you go to heaven or hell? Again, if you're honest, you know that by God's standards (and no one else’s), you’d deserve hell. The Bible says that hell is forever - there is no escape; it is a real place of torment; we should fear God who is Holy and who alone has authority to condemn someone to hell (Matthew 10:28; Matthew 25:41 & 46; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 10:20 to 21:8).

However, while God is Holy and just and must punish sin, he is also “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). In His amazing grace and undeserved mercy God did something incredible! God sent His Son Jesus (God in the flesh), to be born of a virgin, live a perfect life and die on a cross for your sins. Then Jesus rose from the grave and defeated death. His death was a sacrifice made in payment by God, on your behalf. You broke God's law, but Jesus paid your fine. "For God so loved the world [you] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Does this mean everyone now has peace with God and will go to heaven? No! (John 3:17-21 and 36). Jesus said, you must Repent and Believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15). Repent = to change your mind (in your attitude to God - ie. admit He is Holy & you are sinful; the evidence of this change will be seen in a life that seeks to honour God in all things). Believe = personal trust / faith. Gospel = the “Good News” that Jesus died for you. When you humble yourself before God, and trust in Jesus and his death to save you, God will forgive all your sin and give you eternal life (John 5:24-29). This brings true peace on earth. It begins with personal trust in Jesus Christ, not good works - no one gets to heaven by being good! (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

You can get right with God, right now - Repent & believe the Gospel. Then read the Bible daily and obey it. Trust God in all that you do. (Romans 5:8-10; John 3:1-36; 1 John 1:7-9; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20; Luke 15:11-32; Luke 18:9-14) * What are all these names and numbers in brackets? Answer: go to the contents page of a Bible: Luke = a book in the Bible, 18 = chapter in the book, 9-14 = verses in the chap. Please, check these things out before you check out. ETERNITY is forever; it’s a long time to be wrong! If you have trusted Christ to save you from your sins, please pass this on. May God bless you for taking the time to read this. May you know peace on earth, with God.

If you are not sure that you have peace with God and would go to heaven if you died now, CLICK HERE and do the Good Person Test (full version) and see if you really have true peace on earth