The Road to Eternity is Measured in Seconds

Our lives are made up of decades, years, minutes, and seconds. The numbers vary by individual, but we are all given a limited amount of time on earth to live. The average American lifespan is about 78 years, roughly 2.5 billion seconds.

In each person’s life, there comes a time when they truly comprehend good and evil, as the conscience bears witness to the law being written on our human hearts. In God’s grace and mercy, He knows when that time is for each person. As the awareness of sin marches on, the seconds of our lives tick away. Every one of those seconds is a step on the road to eternity.

Time is an immeasurably valuable commodity, a finite resource we can spend, invest, or waste just like money. There are 86,400 seconds in each day. We will obviously spend some of those seconds sleeping, so if the average person sleeps eight hours, we still have around 56,000 seconds to fill at our discretion.

We live at a point in time when there are so many things clamoring for our attention. Just a few decades ago, we could come home after work or classes and have a refuge from the outside world; now, interruption is a constant email or text alert away. Scrolling through social media, posting on our profile, and channel surfing all chip away at the remaining seconds.

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end and number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You made my days a handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you.” -King David

Christians have a Biblical mandate to redeem the time, and we do this by using the seconds we’ve been given to count for God’s glory. In the scope of eternity, our life on earth is a vapor and mist compared to the ages to come, James 4:14.

Jesus told several parables about using our time wisely. In Matthew 25:14-30, He instructs us to use our time and opportunities to serve God and warns those who waste time. In Matthew 25:1-13, He warns about waiting and being prepared for His return, and that time will be up for the unprepared at His coming. Jesus told us to work while it is still day, because the time is coming when we can’t work, John 9:4. We’re instructed to pray without ceasing and make the most of our time because the days are evil, Ephesians 5:15-16.

As Christians, being good stewards of our time goes far beyond a well-managed schedule because our time doesn’t belong to us; it belongs to the Lord. He gives us time to use for His kingdom and glory. Anything that takes precedence over that is wasted time. Things like playing with your kids on the floor, taking your teen on a lunch date, or spending time with your spouse at dinner or in prayer are all honoring to God. So many people gripe that they have little or no time for prayer, Bible study, or witnessing about Jesus to others, yet they will fill hours with activities that won’t matter in eternity.

Can you imagine what would happen if true Christians started to redeem the time as though Jesus might return at any moment? Our walk with the Lord would be marked by renewed boldness for Him and love for lost souls.

As we consider the people who don’t know Jesus as their Lord, the reality that they will all soon face God’s wrath should compel us to make the most of every second we have available to share the good news with them. Many of our modern churches are swanky spiritual country clubs brimming with people who have itching ears, not broken hearts for lost souls, 2 Timothy 4:3.

There are still local churches where remnant Christians gather to make much of Jesus, not themselves, Hebrews 10:25. When we realize that the road to eternity is measured in seconds, we will have a renewed sense of biblical urgency to compel lost people to come to repentance and saving faith.

“Right now people are being swept into the vortex of a sewer of gross iniquity which ultimately will suck them down into eternal hell.” -Leonard Ravenhill

Dear Friends, if we love Jesus and lost souls, we don’t have a second to waste. Don’t put off reaching people until you feel equipped. Because the Holy Spirit lives in you, consider yourself equipped. As you plan, pray for the Lord’s will to be done and to direct you. Since the road to eternity is measured in seconds, we can’t assume that we’ll have until old age to serve God. Two dear brothers were called home to be with the Lord at a very young age, but they made quite an impact for His kingdom in just a few years.

William Borden was born in 1887 into a very wealthy family. After conversion around age 16, the young millionaire was on a trip around the world, and while in London, he felt called to foreign missions. He wanted to bring the good news to the Hui Muslims in Northwestern China, but first went to Cairo to study Islam and Arabic before going on to China. While in Egypt, he spent time distributing Christian sermons on the streets of Cairo. William contracted cerebral meningitis in March 1913; he died 3 weeks later. He was only 25 years old, but he made the seconds he was given count for eternity.

Beloved singer-songwriter Keith Green was born-again at age 19. From that point on, whether he was composing soul-stirring worship songs, providing housing for marginalized people, or preaching the gospel, Keith lived a life of no compromise. At the pinnacle of his ministry, he died in a plane crash in 1982 at the age of 28. After Keith came to faith in Jesus, he lived the remaining few years of his life for God’s glory. Both William Borden’s and Keith Green’s lives were brief, but these men stand as a vivid testimony of what the Holy Spirit can accomplish in a person who understands that the road to eternity is measured in seconds.

The longest life ends abruptly, and one is suddenly ushered into eternity. Time has vanished into the past, except as choices and words and deeds have affected eternity.” -Dave Hunt

If you are reading this article and don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I have to warn you about the eternal danger you are in. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Approximately 150,000 die and go into eternity every day; many go there unexpectedly. Jesus said that most people would take the wide road leading to destruction. God’s wrath will soon fall on all unrepentant people, and the only way to be saved is by coming to repentance and being born again.

God does love you and demonstrated it by sending Jesus. He’s the only way to eternal life. I’m pleading with you to come to saving faith in Him while you still have time. The road to eternity is measured in seconds, and each one might be a final opportunity to have your sins forgiven.

Once sav3d , hwre are some precioua truths by spurgeon (everything in () will be my input):

Now I want to say one or two things to Little-Faiths this morning. The little children of God
who are here mentioned as being bruised reeds or smoking flax are just as safe as the great
saints of God.

I wish for a moment to expand this thought, and then I will finish with the other
head. These saints of God who are called bruised reeds and smoking flax are just as safe as
those who are mighty for their Master, and great in strength, for several reasons.

(Note that well! We might feel less important than the great saints, but NOT SO!)

First of all, the
little saint is just as much God’s elect as the great saint. When God chose his people, he chose
them all at once, and altogether; and he elected one just as much as the other. If I choose a
certain number of things, one may be less than the rest, but one is as much chosen as the other;
and so Mrs. Fearing and Miss Despondency are just as much elected as Great-Heart, or Old
Father Honest. Again: the little ones are redeemed equally with the great ones! the feeble saints
cost Christ as much suffering as the strong ones; the tiniest child of God could not have been
purchased with less than Jesus’ precious blood; and the greatest child of God did not cost him
more.

Paul did not cost any more than Benjamin—I am sure he did not—for I read in the Bible
that “there is no difference.” Besides, when of old they came to pay their redemption-money,
every person brought a shekel. The poor shall bring no less, and the rich shall bring no more
than just a shekel. The same price was paid for the one as the other. Now then little child of
God, take that thought to thy soul. You see some men very prominent in Christ’s cause—and it
is very good that they should be—but they did not cost Jesus a farthing more than you did; he
paid the same price for you that he paid for them. Recollect again, you are just as much a child
of God as the greatest saint.

Some of you have five or six children. There is one child of yours,
perhaps, who is very tall and handsome, and has, moreover, gifts of mind; and you have
another child who is the smallest of the family, perhaps has but little intellect and
understanding.

But which is the most your child? “The most!” you say; “both alike are my
children, certainly, one as much as the other.” And so, dear friends, you may have very little
learning, you may be very dark about divine things, you may but “see men as trees walking,”
but you are as much the children of God as those who have grown to the stature of men in
Christ Jesus.

Then remember, poor tried saint, that you are just as much justified as any other
child of God. I know that I am completely justified.
“His blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress.”
I want no other garments, save Jesus’ doings, and his imputed righteousness.
The boldest child of God want no more; and I who am “less than the least of all saints,” can
be content with no less, and I shall have no less, O Ready-to-Halt, thou art as much justified as
8
Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, or the loftiest saint in heaven. There is no difference in that matter.

Oh! take courage and rejoice.
Then one thing more. If you were lost, God’s honor would be as much tarnished as if the
greatest one were lost...

“No,” said Christ, “no, no; I
cannot have any of my members taken away; if the finger be a sore one, I will bind it up; I will
strengthen it.” Christ cannot allow a word about cutting his members off. If Christ lose one of
his people, he would not be a whole Christ any longer. If the meanest of his children could be
cast away, Christ would lack a part of his fulness; yea, Christ would be incomplete without his
Church. If one of his children must be lost, it would be better that it should be a great one, than
a little one. If a little one were lost, Satan would say, “Ah! you save the great ones, because
they had strength and could help themselves; but the little one that has no strength, you could
not save him.” You know what Satan would say; but God would shut Satan’s mouth, by
proclaiming, “They are all here, Satan, in spite of thy malice, they are all here; every one is
safe; now lie down in thy den for ever, and be bound eternally in chains, and smoke in fire!” So
shall he suffer eternal torment, but not one child of God ever shall.

One thought more and I shall have done with this head. The salvation of great saints often
depends upon the salvation of little ones. Do you understand that? You know that my salvation,
or the salvation of any child of God, looking at second causes, very much depends upon the
conversion of some one else. Suppose your mother is the means of your conversion, you
would, speaking after the manner of men, say, that your conversion depended upon hers; for
her being converted, made her the instrument of bringing you in. Suppose such-and-such a
minister to be the means of your calling; then your conversion, in some sense, though not
absolutely, depends upon his. So it often happens, that the salvation of God’s mightiest servants
depends upon the conversion of little ones. There is a poor mother; no one ever knows anything
about her; she goes to the house of God, her name is not in the newspapers, or anywhere else;
she teaches her child, and brings him up in the fear of God; she prays for that boy; she wrestles
with God, and her tears and prayers mingle together. The boys grows up. What is he? A
missionary—a William Knibb—a Moffat—a Williams. But you do not hear anything about the
mother. Ah! but if the mother had not been saved, where would the boy have been? Let this
cheer the little ones; and may you rejoice that he will nourish and cherish you, though you are
like bruised reeds and smoking flax.

What you describe is how Rome makes you Cathoholics view God.

An angry, vindictive, and vengeful ‘god’.

And if you don’t go to confession with a ‘priest’...
And if you don’t pray the ‘rosary’....
And if you don’t belong to the RCC....
And if you don’t believe in ‘sacred traditions’ (however made up)....
And if you don’t believe in the true tears of Mary on that statue....
And if you don’t believe Mary is a co-redemptress....
And if...
And if...
And if...

You go to hell.

But you can still go to Purgatory (nowhere in the Bible).
But you can still be prayed out of hell (nowhere in the Bible).

Revelation 22:12-16

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 15 But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

One of these days, you’ll see the True Jesus for who He is - and Mary won’t be around that Throne as he will not share His Glory with her or anybody else.

Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Religion never saves....
👎

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