Do you know that the decisions that you make today can determine your destination tomorrow? What shall your end be? In Jeremiah 29:11 it states “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
God’s plan for you is that you prosper, be in health, even as your soul prospers and live in His peace. His desire is to give you a glorious end.
You may have messed up big time but God is merciful and long suffering and it is not His will that any of us perish. He wants us to have eternal life with Him.
The Apostle Paul before his name was changed he was called Saul. He was a man who was very educated, well learned and very religious. Yet, in ignorance, He consented to the death of Stephen and persecuted the believers. “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Acts 8:3
So it is today that some people persecute the righteous and do much evil against them, and take no thought as to how this touching of the Lord’s anointed will affected their end. God is such a merciful God that He often gives us time and space to repent.
Before judgment, there comes a warning. Every time you hear the Word of God in any form, preached, taught, sang, in church, outside the church, on the radio, television, internet or any other media, or through someone, it is another chance for you to examine yourself in the light of the Word of God and repent where necessary.
In Acts chapter 9 we read that Saul was on a mission to persecute the Christians. “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” Acts 9:1-2 But something mysterious happened, God showed up. God asked Saul, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 9:4b
God did not ask Saul why he was persecuting the Christians. He instead asked him why He was persecuting Him. You see, when you touch the Lord’s anointed, you are not coming against that person or persons but you are instead coming against God and you cannot come against God and win.
Saul was blinded for three days but he did not sit idle, he prayed to God. God sent Ananias to Saul to minister to him that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth.” Acts 9:11 He realized that the things that he was doing to the servants of God was not ordained by God.
Saul made a decision at this point to change his destiny to change his end. Who has God been sent to you, or what has the Lord been using to convict you of the need to turn from your wicked ways and turn to Him? Did you receive the vessel that God sent your way to change your path to the path of righteousness or did you reject His messenger and His message? What shall your end be?
Saul’s name was changed to Paul and as he submitted His life to the Lord, God used him mightily and is still using Him today as the books that He has written in the Bible continue to transform lives for the Kingdom of God.
At the end of his life in the book of Timothy the Apostle Paul said “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Yes, for all those of us who name of the name of Jesus Christ and are determined to live holy lives, walk uprightly and not eat the pie of compromise; there is no need for us to be concerned about our end.
The judgment of God has begun, not only in the house of the Lord but in our land and in the Caribbean. “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17 What shall your end be?
Just about every funeral booklet you see these days has in some part of it “May her/his soul rest in peace.” I guess for many families in their times of grief they sometimes tell themselves that they will see their loved ones again in heaven.
But the truth of the matter is, if you yourself are not born-again then you cannot enter heaven and if the family or friend who died did not die in Jesus Christ, heaven will surely not be their home. That individual was given many changes to choose what their end would be, whether heaven or hell.
The judgment of God is at hand. Now is not the time to turn a deaf ear to the spirit of the Lord or the Word of the Lord. Where will you spend eternity? Is your heart right with God? What shall your end be?
Our encouragement to you today, is that if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, let today be your day of salvation. Let today be the day that you will make a decision to change from the path of destruction to the path that leads to life everlasting. Jesus Christ is calling you today and He is saying “Come”.
You may have lost all hope in people, in things. You may be trying the pleasures of this world, to try and bring you peace and happiness. Only Jesus Christ can give you everlasting joy and a peace that passeth all understanding.
It is our prayer that you will take heed to the Word of the Lord today and set your house in order that at the end of your life, you will hear the Lord say “Well, done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” What shall your end be?
SINNER’S PRAYER
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and would like to accept Him today, please say the following prayer.
Dear God,
In the name of Jesus Christ, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I need a Savior.
Forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Your Word says in Romans 10:9 and 10 that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, I shall be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I now confess Jesus Christ as Lord of my life.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.
