The Last Time

      A week ago I was thinking about it being the last day of the year. There’s a sense of finality every December 31. Something is ending. The world goes a little crazy every year as the last seconds are counted down. New Year’s Eve has never been much of a big deal in my life. Often I have not stayed up for the “countdown” and just gone to bed. New Year’s Eve always seemed to me to be just a convenient reason for people to get wasted and forget their troubles for a few hours. I guess you could say, “I don’t get it!”

On that same day I finished our “Through the Bible in 2013” reading plan. Part of me felt like saying, “There, that’s done!” And it did feel good to complete it. But do you think I am “done” reading the Bible? I think you know better, because the next day God’s Word had something new for me. While systematic reading through all or part of the Scriptures is a good thing, complete mastery in understanding, obedience, application, and wisdom never comes fully this side of eternity. I will never be “done” reading the Word.

Each of us is steadily moving toward what is often thought of as the last day of our lives. But it won’t be. Our last breath will usher us into eternity. We enter eternity in one of two states: having faith in Christ, or not having faith in Christ. John wrote that “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12). To “not have life” does not mean to cease to exist. The last day of existence does not come for the one who rejects Jesus Christ. As I read the last chapters of Revelation as the days of 2013 came to an end, I was reminded that the lake of fire (the second death) is eternal (Rev. 20:10). While it is reserved for the devil and his angels, it is also the destination for all whose names are not written in the Lamb’s (Jesus) Book of Life (Rev 20:15) at the final judgment. At that time every “final resting place” will give up their dead (without exception). All who have ever lived will stand before God on His great white throne.

For the person who “has the Son” (whose trust is in Christ alone) this presents no fear because, as Paul writes in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” The confidence of standing before God wearing the righteousness of Christ is a great cause for assurance in our hearts. We will not be condemned because Christ has cleansed us of our sin by taking it on Himself and by giving us His own righteousness. It is for this reason that we also need not fear that last day of our earthly life – whenever it may come – or the last judgment. Jesus is a great Savior. What a privilege we have to know Him and to be among those God has chosen for faith and for salvation. How humbling that is, and how encouraging that is to share with others whom God will also call to believe on Christ.

I used to sing a song by Mark Heard in church when I was younger called “The Last Time”. The lyrics remind me that we are always living out the things we do in life for potentially the last time. For me this was both a comforting and challenging thought. Each breath… each prayer… each meal… each day of work… each song… each heartbeat… each year is one closer to being with Jesus in eternity. The thought of this could make a person fret, but not the one who knows Christ and looks forward to His appearing: the one who knows the “last” of anything is not ours to determine, but is in His hands (His will). May the Lord give you peace about these things because you are in Christ. And if you are not in Christ, may the Lord rescue you out of such a hopeless and helpless place so that you may be able to place your hope in Him.

If you’d like to listen to the song, this link can get you to it: https://myspace.com/johnmarkheard/music/song/the-last-time-88298428-98007323

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV) ⁴  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) ²¹  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

PRAYER:  Father, in this new year I rejoice that you have by grace, imputed to me the righteousness of Your Son. Not because of who I am, and not for anything I have done, but for your glory and according to your lovingkindness and mercy. For this I praise you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!

Scott