Death of a young man

Death of a young man.

“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
                                                                                                                 Tony Campolo.
I am writing this by way of a warning of sorts to all who would read this. The question I ask is, Where will you spend eternity?
As I write this a young man I know named Johnny has just died he was a month short of his thirtieth birthday.
I’ve known this young man all his life. When younger he attended Sunday School and church he had a family that cared for him, but as he grew to manhood he left the church and went his own way.
For most of his life he struggled with alcoholism and drugs. He’d get drunk and start using his fists and action that seen him put in jail several times.
His death came as a result of a fight in which he was hit over the head with a pipe killing him.
Many people over the years tried to reach Johnny. He’d stop by our house on numerous occasions to talk. He always knew that our door was open to him at any time day or night if he needed help.
My late sister in law a recovering alcoholic herself did her best while alive to try and get Johnny into various programs to get him sober, but to no avail.
Johnny sadly followed his own path that led to his ultimate demise.
I as a Christian believe God tries to reach us and give us a chance to accept Him as Lord of our lives up to the very moment of our death.  Such a decision is between the individual and God.
Where Johnny stood I do not know. It is between Him and God. Certainly Johnny knew the way to heaven all he had to do was reach out to the hand of Jesus. Something he could have done with his last breath.
 Question, Dear reader do you know where you will spend eternity?
The apostle John writing about Jesus said,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” 
                                 John 1:12,13.
The Gift of Salvation, eternal life with God is free to all. The Apostle Paul said,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” 
                                                                    Ephesians 2:8,9
Accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour is as simple as a sincere prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father,
I believe Jesus is your one and only Son. That He came to this world to bring Salvation to each and every person who would believe in Him.
Please dear Lord forgive my sins and come into my heart and soul today. Be Lord of my life and guide me from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer sincerely, I would suggest that you start reading the Bible for it is in reading the Bible that we can determine what God expects of us.
Start by reading the New Testament. Here in North America you can get a bible at any book store. You can even go on line and get the “you bible” app. A free App.
I suggest you read a modern translation, the New International Version, the New King James Version, American Standard Version are all easy to read and understand.
In my bible study at the church we use all of those versions.
I would also suggest you find a good church. As these blogs are read around the world it’s hard for me her in Canada to suggest a specific church. I do however suggest the Baptist Churches as they are consistent in their beliefs around the world.
In the United States Southern Baptist convention churches are good as is the Assemblies of God.
Additionally here in Canada I suggest a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church.
Remember not all church congregations are the same in character some are more lively than others, others are very conservative in the way they conduct their service while others are more contemporary with modern music and worship styles.
The key is to find a church that fits your liking while at the same time holds the Bible as the sacred inspired word of God.
Pray and ask God to lead you to the right church you’ll be surprised how he will lead you.
The key in all of this is knowing Jesus as your Lord and saviour. It is the only way you can be assured of going to heaven.
Please think about it.