As the calendar years go by…

2018 is not a New Year on God’s calendar. We dealt with that in last week’s article, however, it is a calendar year. It governs our lives; from making us one year older to making us one year nearer to our demise.

As we move in 2018, some harsh realities face us as a species. For one, we have no guarantees in this life; only death and taxes are guaranteed, to borrow from a popular adage. We are here today, gone tomorrow. We have no assurances that we will live to see another second, minute, hour, day, week or month. Yet, as human beings we live our lives as if we will never die. We don’t live for the moment, we live as if we have been promised to live in the flesh forever.

There is a promise that the Creator of the Universe made to us. As the years go by, this is something to bear in mind. As we grapple with the pains and groans of life, we must remain conscious that we brought nothing into this world, and we are returning to the dust from whence we came with nothing – except a jacket and tie or a dress.

For the one who believes YAHWEH is the only True God, life does not stop at death, it’s only the beginning. It could mean that for some because the Holy Bible tells us of a lake of fire that burns with brimstone waiting to consume the wicked “and it will neither leave us root nor branch,” and “And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet.”  Mal 4:3.

We have seen the rich and famous and the poor and needy all going to the same place – the grave. Death is not a respecter of anyone.  They all die the same death. In life, one cannot aspire to, and acquire all the great wealth they want; live in affluence, travel the world, possess the greatest material things one could ever imagine, and what is at the end of such an experience? It will be like an overnight dream.

The poor and needy might not have the best of foods to eat and might have lived out of the garbage, sleep on the street during the freezing nights, never knew what it was like to have a family, a job or children, and guess what, his experience, too, will be like a dream. You see, Isa 40:6 says all flesh is grass. James 4:14 says life is like vapour. The Bible speaks of a time coming when all the former things are passed away and will not come to mind. A time when the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as waters cover the sea. When sorrow will end, paid and grief, too. How can we inherit such a life when the breath leaves hour body and you join all those who have gone on before us?

2018 might very well be your year to join the line of the deceased. If not this year, it will be one year nearer by December 31. This calendar year might be the time you will make the most important decision of your life, not marriage or university graduation, buying a house or a new car. It’s the decision to answer God’s precious calling and repent!  Yes, repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of the World, so you will be granted a new and everlasting life in the future. A future that is not governed by time such as a calendar year. May you answer the call of God! For more on this subject, download FREE our booklet The Assurance of Salvation.