I recently read a book giving advice and wisdom from seniors, about every area of life. When it came to one's spiritual destiny of life after death, however, many seniors had never given this subject any serious consideration, after 80, 90, or 100-plus years of living! What a shame. There was no assurance as to where they would go, or what happens after death. One of the main questions asked was, "How can anyone know?"
If you are an elderly person you CAN have assurance of what to expect after your final days on earth. As a Christian and a senior myself, let me explain. First of all, there must be a trustworthy source for one's beliefs, especially concerning a subject of this nature. For me it is the Bible, the divinely inspired truth, backed up by evidence to this, down through all of history. If you have never read it, I encourage you to do so. Here is what it has to say.
There is life after death but it is conditional, not automatic or universal. II Corinthians 5:9 confidently asserts that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Then John 14:2-3 comforts us with the words given by Christ. Before He ascended to heaven He said He was going to prepare a place for us, "and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am there you may be also." Added to this is I John 5:11-13. "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in his Son (Jesus). He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written unto you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."
Did you catch that? You must receive and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then you WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, in heaven with God. The whole issue here is not religion; it is a relationship with Christ, the only begotten Son of God and creator of the universe. Jesus was and is God in human flesh. Romans 10:9 says "that if you confess with your
mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." We are not saved by works, by being religious, or by being a good person. Ephesians 2:8-9 humbly reminds each of us. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast."
Seniors, you do not have a lot of time left on earth. Make this decision today. Give your heart, mind, and soul to Jesus Christ. He died for YOU. You could very soon be in his presence. II Corinthians 5:1 says, "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
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