How many times have you made a steadfast New Year’s resolution, saying to yourself, this time it’s going to stick? Perhaps you even told your friends, made a pact with a family member, or in some other way determined to assure success. Were you trying to quit smoking, lose weight, stop drinking, or maybe shop less? Maybe you wanted to spend more time with your spouse, or avoid relationships altogether. Maybe you resolved to drive closer to the speed limit? How many times has your resolution failed mere days or even hours after you made it?

I will confess to you right now that when I set out to write my post-Christmas blog, I fully intended a lighthearted look at all the resolutions I have made over the years and how I had come up short every time. Unfortunately, I cannot write such a blog today. No, today my heart carries a heavy burden and I need to share this with you, our readers.

A horrible tragedy occurred in Minnesota over the Christmas weekend. A family of four, driving home from spending time with relatives, was involved in an automobile accident. Roads were icy and their vehicle slid sideways into the oncoming lane where it was hit head on by a large SUV that was carrying 5 passengers. A forty-five year old man, his 40 year old wife, and their two children, a 14 year old girl and a 12 year old boy (and their two dogs) were killed instantly. Three passengers in the other vehicle were seriously injured but, fortunately, their lives were not lost.

I did not know any of these people, but I can pretty confidently express that none of them thought their life would end that day. Few of us ever expect that. From the news articles I have read about this tragedy, those that died were a well-respected and loved family known for hosting barbecues with their neighbors. The husband and wife had been married for 15 years and both were employed as medical assistants and the entire family was very active in their church. I can only imagine the hopes and dreams they each had; the expectations the children had of returning to school after the Christmas break; the parents’ preparations for the coming tax season, and so on. With her parents having been married such a long time, I can imagine the girl, in her early teens, dreaming about the day she would meet Mr. Right and start a family of her own.

And then life was over. Unexpectedly. Just like that.

And it is in light of this tragedy that I wish to emphatically urge each of you reading this to consider the possibility that you will not see tomorrow. I have shared Psalm 39:4 with you before: “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.”  The Bible tells us it is appointed for all to die once, and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27) but that Jesus Christ was sacrificed to take away our sins (Hebrews 9:28) that we might have eternal life with God in heaven (John 3:16). Whether you believe that or not is irrelevant because “It is written, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” (Romans 14:11)

Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess. That is the reality facing each of us when we die – whether or not we choose to believe it now. The difference is this: those who believe in Jesus Christ and trust Him for their salvation will be saved. And then there is everyone else. As it is written: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12).

So with this tragic accident as a back drop, I feel the need to implore each of you to consider the brevity of your mortal life on this planet, to recognize that physical death is not the end, and to charge you with the task of accepting the free gift of salvation that is available through Jesus Christ, if you haven’t already. For the temptation, when it comes to our relationship with God, is to assume we have another day…or another hour. The fact is, we may not even have another minute. Please, please, reach out to God now, while there is still time.

And know that accepting Jesus Christ as your savior is a New Year’s resolution that will never fail!

Here are some resources that may help you:

NeedGod.com
Church Finder
Lee Strobel
Answers in Genesis

Take the time, do the research, learn for yourself the truth about God. But do it now, for tomorrow could be too late. Of course, we’re always happy to help answer your questions, too. Email us anytime at ReignDropsBlog@gmail.com

God bless.

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