COULD THIS BE THE LAST DAY OF YOUR LIFE?

     Good morning to each listener in our audience. How pleasant it
is to have you study together with us. I mentioned last Sunday in
our broadcast that beginning to morrow evening, November 30, the
White Park church of Christ will be engaged in a series of Gospel
lessons. These services will continue nightly through Friday,
December 4. The time will be 7:30 each evening. We have invited Jim
McDonald of Jasper, Texas, to be our speaker for these services. On
Monday evening, brother McDonald will discuss the Lord's Work in the
Philippines. Brother McDonald has spent extensive time traveling to
the Philippines and laboring with brethren there in the
establishment of and strengthen of congregations of the Lord's
people. He will discuss the condition of God's people there and tell
us about his work there. There will be a time spent in the answering
of questions from the audience. So, you have a cordial invitation to
visit with us at any or all of these services. You will be our
welcomed guest; our honored guest. You will not be embarrassed, nor
will you be asked to financially support our work. In fact,
contributions are not taken during week-day services. In the New
Testament, the only day that we find used to take up contributions
was the "first day of the week" (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). If you know
of another, perhaps you could drop us a line and share your
information with us.
     Now, I turn our attention to the lesson for this morning.
Whenever someone mentions the idea that this life may come to an
end, there is a certain uneasiness that most of us begin to feel. We
are not alone in that feeling; in fact, there is always a kind of
fear involved in discussing the subject of death. Many people become
absolutely terrified at the thought of this life ending.
     On the one hand, we see the tremendous scientific and medical
accomplishments of the last few decades. It has been said that the
average person in his home today can treat disease better than
doctors could fifty years ago. But on the other hand, we are
beginning to sense that science and technology will not bring us the
answers to our problems and certainly will not allow us to live
forever here in this life. But in spite of the uncertainty that we
feel about the future, there is still the idea in the minds of many
people that they will be alive for many years to come.
     They just cannot bring themselves to consider the possibility
that their lives will end someday. Why not? Maybe it is because
people get too busy with other things. They get too busy making
money, buying land, building houses, raising children, and generally
trying to keep the bills paid. They get so busy, in fact, that they
forget to pray and study the Bible and worship God, and live godly
lives. So many individuals around us today exist without any sense
of direction, without any purpose, and without any notion of living
more acceptable lives in the eyes of Jehovah.
     If they could ever slow down long enough to think about it,
they would certainly admit that the time is coming when each one is
going to die.  Human experience tells us that this is so, and every
time we drive past a cemetery, it is further emphasized. We remind
each one of the statement, "Man, who is born of woman, is short-
lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers;
he also flees like a shadow and does not remain" (Job 14:1-2).
     People know all this, so why are they still rushing through
this life without making any plans for the next one?  Maybe in all
of their activity, they have placed too much faith in the word
"tomorrow." Yes, they may lose their jobs....tomorrow. They may get
sick....tomorrow. They may even die....tomorrow. But as far as today
is concerned, those are things that only happen to other people.
     It would do us all good to slow down right now and think about
the question: Could this be the last day of my life? The hourglass
is running out for every person. Could it possibly run out for you
today? Could there really be just a few more grains of sand left in
your hourglass. Could this be the last day of your life?
     The truth is that we will not live forever in this life. Jesus
taught the lesson about the Rich Fool. He had a good farm and was a
very successful farmer. In fact, at harvest time, his barns would
not hold his harvest. So, he built larger barns, stored his goods,
and stated, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to
come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry" (Luke 12:17-19).
     But Jesus called him a fool. The world would call him a good
business man, a wise farmer. But, our Lord called him a fool. You
see, this man had forgotten that death is certain.  He also had
forgotten that it was God who gave him life and the blessings
thereof. And it was God would could take away his life. This
prosperous farmer did not live to enjoy all of that prosperity. My
friends, we must not be that foolish!!!
     People today seek to hide their fear of dying. They cover it up
with the pursuit of "success." They say to themselves, "I'll get
money, I'll buy what I want. I will become the top person in the
company. I will be the envy of everyone." Yet, they forget, or
willingly overlook, that gaining "these things" is not the reason
for our existence. And that "these things" can be lost in a moment.
     It was Satan who said, "You shall not die," when confronting
Eve in the garden. And that lie has been believed by the vast
majority of our society. Satan wants you to forget about the passing
nature of life. He attempts to convince us that happiness comes from
making more money, going to more parties, and trying to experience
the latest thrill. Unfortunately, he does not tell us that all of
these things will fade in time, and then we must face God in
judgment.
     There are people who are very successful in the eyes of the
world. But, they shall die one day and be buried in fine caskets
with many flowers. To those the Lord says, "You fool." This is not
to say that one cannot be successful and still serve the Lord. But,
if one does that, he or she is in the minority, an exception to the
rule.
     The real question that we must all ask ourselves is: Do I fully
understand that death is coming for me? The rich fool missed that
fact. Whether we admit it or not, the truth is that life will end
one day for each one of us. The only exception to that would be if
the Lord Jesus returns in His second coming before one dies. Are you
ready to die? Could this possibly be your last day?
     The story of the rich fool should also teach us that life can
come to an end very suddenly. God said, "This very night your soul
is required of you" (Luke 12:20). As we have already stated, the
rich fool was a very successful farmer. There is no evidence that he
was dishonest or a bad person. No doubt the community would have
pronounced approval upon him and his accomplishments. Yet, he did
not plan on meeting God within the next few hours.
     So many people today think that they will be ready for death.
They have concluded that they will live a full life. That they will
call the family around the bedside and say good-bye to everyone;
but, it probably will not be that way. Most have no warning that it
is going to be the last day of their life. Death usually comes when
least expected.  And, saddly, it comes when most are unprepared for
it. We must live our lives realizing that each day could well be our
last day in this life.
     Listen to the writer James, "Come now, ye that say, Today or
tomorrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and
trade, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the
morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If
the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that" (James 4:13-
15).  James very well warns us against becoming over confident in
making plans for tomorrow. Tomorrow may never come.
     Far too many are putting off obeying God until they can get
everything just perfect in their lives. They are always planning on
that new house, or a new job, or getting the children through
college, or retirement. They work and they dream and they save for
some future event. But, as James said, life is like a vapor -- it is
here for a little while, and then it is gone. Plans crash, cars
wreck, houses burn down, diseases strike, and the vapor of life
suddenly disappears. What a sobering thought this should be to all
of us.
     What will our "successes" be worth tomorrow if this the last
day of life for us? The lesson of the rich fool needs to be learned
over and over.
     How then should we live?  The purpose and intent of this
message today is not to make anyone become obsessed with the thought
of death. Surely, we would not want to spend every waking moment
thinking about the possibility of dying the next moment.  This not
why we would spent our time, nor yours, on this subject. But, when
we come to an understanding of what the Bible teaches on the subject
of death, we will no longer be terrorized by the thought of dying.
Hear the apostle Paul, "O death, where is thy victory? O death,
where is thy sting? The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin
is the law: but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
     The answer to the fear of death is to obey the gospel of Jesus
Christ and live a life that is faithful in every aspect. Obeying the
gospel means that we submit and humble ourselves to the will of God
and obey His commandments. To become a child of God, one must
believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God. John 3:16 demands of us
that we have that kind of faith. Our faith in Christ will lead us to
confess that Jesus is the Christ. So states Paul in Romans 10:9-
10. Our faith in Christ will cause us to repent of our sins. Acts
17:30-31 makes that very clear.  One's faith in Christ will also be
baptized in water for the remission of sins. Read Peter's answer to
the question "What shall we do?" as found in Acts 2:37-38. It very
clear states, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." It is then and there that
one's sins are forgiven and the Lord adds that one to His body,
those who are saved.
     Once one becomes the child of God, that one no longer lives in
the fear of death, for that which separates from God has been
removed by the blood of Christ. And as long as that one walks in the
light, the blood of Christ continues to cleanse. Read 1 John 1:7-9.
     Dear friend, could this possibly be the last day of your life?
If you could determine that this was so, could you honestly say, "I
am ready Lord." It is possible that I may be speaking to someone at
this very moment that may not see tomorrow. What a sobering though.
We dare not procrastinate, we dare not put off becoming what God
demands of us.
     When you pillow your head in slumber tonight, what will you be
thinking about? Tomorrow? Or, am I prepared for tonight? If we may
assist any in this radio audience toward a better understand of
God's word as it applies to each of us, please contact us: White
Park church of Christ, Route 1, Box 502, Anahuac, TX 77514.
     Remember, we will be meeting nightly at 7:30 this week. Come
and visit with us. Bring your Bible, your questions.
                   (Much of this material taken from the tract:
                   "Could This Be the Last Day of Your Life?" by
                   Raymond T.  Exum)

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