If Today was Your Last Day on Earth

Three years ago, the daily newspaper carried a story of a traffic derailment of a passenger ferry in Mombasa, one of the famous cities in Kenya. Many lives were lost. I grieved with the bereaved families and when I tried to picture the accident, my attention turned to the passengers caught up in it. What had their thoughts been as they woke up that morning? What were their thoughts a second before the accident occurred? What plans did they have for the coming day? What unfinished tasks did they hope to accomplish? What family decisions were they expected to make that evening?

Perhaps some were business men and women on their sales trips, who hoped to be home in time for the family meal. Some were on their way to school in joy and harmony to meet their parents at the lunch hour. And of these people one can ask so many questions. All in all, what did these people plan for the future? Did any of their plans involve God? Did they know of God’s mercy and His amazing grace to redeem man from sin? Had anyone of them given their hearts to Jesus? As their life records were suddenly truncated by that dreadful accident, how did they stand with God? Were they found in harmony with God’s word? Were their names in the book of life? Or were their bad deeds still retained in the record books and their names written in the book of death awaiting the dreadful declaration: “I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:23.

Each time in my life when I learn of a life suddenly cut short, these thoughts come to my mind with an awful weight and clarity. I cannot help but cry out, ” How long, O Lord? How long will men continue to suffer?”

James was my cousin, who was in the prime of life. He had just finished his first degree in medicine and the future looked bright with opportunities. Following his assignment to a district hospital, he proposed to a young college girl who gladly accepted him. Not long afterwards he drove into the city among the weekend traffic to work out final plans for the wedding. On his way back, the tires of his car blew out and this resulted in a major accident, and death took my cousin. Could anything be more painful? The only son of a widowed mother with bright prospects about to marry…

In all the countries of the world, the prediction made in Genesis 3:19 which says, ” in the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. You are dust and to dust you shall return,” is fulfilled every day as thousands return to the dust of the ground. There is practically no safe place on the planet earth. Fire, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, cold, heat waves, deadly gases, horrible diseases and accidents claim thousands of lives every day around the world. And just as if this was not bad enough, man has become his own worst enemy! Men taking the lives of other fellow men, the greatest menace of all.

Friend, if today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it? What would you do? How many wrongs would you have to make right? How many letters would you have to write? What legacy would you leave behind? If today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it? You might be nervous, you might even be afraid. If today was your last day on earth, what would you do? Whatever it is, do it now. Don’t think of tomorrow, but for today, ” whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, wither thou goest.” Eccl. 9:10. the Bible reminds us that all of us will have to pass through the grave unless Jesus comes before we die. In that event, we will be translated to heaven with Him. But it is not God’s plan that we should go into the grave without first knowing the good news about Jesus Christ and the good news about the kingdom of God. Unless we have embraced the good news about Jesus, the judgment is really a terrible thing. ” It is appointed unto men once to die, but after that the judgment.” Heb. 9:27.

Paul is not the only one concerned about the judgment. The subject is frequently presented by the Bible writers. Enoch pictured the Lord coming to execute judgment. (Isa. 66:15). Daniel also foresaw the time when the judgment was set and the books were opened. (Dan. 7:10). Jesus Himself frequently referred to the final judgment. He declared that the ancient Sodom and Gomorrah would be treated more leniently in the judgment for refusing the light they had, than the cities of His day that had rejected Him. (Matt. 10:11, 14, 15). Verse 14 and 15, ” And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city” . He asserted that men would give an account of every idle word in the judgment unless he/she confesses and is pardoned. (Matt. 12:36). Paul declared that God has appointed a day on which He will judge the world. (Acts 17:31). No one can escape the judgment, all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; and the decision of the judgment for those who have not accepted Christ are based on the unrepented-of sins we have committed. (2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 7:16-20). And yet whether we accept the scriptural teachings of the judgment or not, whether we like it or not, each one of us has a case pending in court (not on earth but in heaven where our cases will be decided). And from that decision, there will be no court of appeal. The decision will be righteous, (Rom. 2:2-5) and eternal in its consequences. We shall all give an account of ourselves to God (Rom 14:12). Young people, ignorant, careless, are striding towards the judgment. The aged with slow and unsteady steps are trembling towards it. The rich in their stretch limousines are also driving towards the judgment. The poor in their threadbare clothes will also be there. Yes, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Every sin of which we have not repented will be brought into judgment. Every lie will be exposed. Everyone will have his/her life-record open, and nothing will be covered up. Is there anything in your life-record that will be hidden? Every sin, every deed of law-breaking, or any sinful thoughts are all recorded in the book of records. Here is where God, the Judge of all the universe examines the evidence and announces His decision. Many people still in today’s world do not realize how narrow the road to heaven is. There will be no group-entry into the city of God. We enter as individuals only when our sins have been washed by the blood of the Lamb and have accepted Him as our personal Saviour. The Bible says that the road that leads to eternal life is a narrow one and few travel upon it. When it comes to matters of eternal life or eternal death, you stand alone; the decision for Christ and eternity is all yours. Nobody can make it for you. There is a time when each one will give an account of himself/herself to God and nobody will speak for the other.

TERRIFYING!!! Well, no court case is terrifying if one knows the judge and can get some assurance from him. We have that assurance from God, also He says, ” verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word and believed on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24. Wonderful assurance! We shall not come into condemnation, says Jesus. This is a revelation of God’s plan to save every redeemed man and woman who has accepted His provision. Everyone of us is under condemnation for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Rom 6:23 says, ” the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God does not want us to die in our sins. He has provided a way of escape; He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son, hath life and he that hath not the Son of God, hath no life.

My brother and sister, I urge you to accept the gift of God by accepting the Son, even if this should be your last day on earth. You need not have fear of the future, no fear of the judgment, because your life has been hidden with Christ in God. If today was your last day on earth, how would you spend it? I pray that you will live this day as if it was your last day on earth. It may be today for you, my friend, therefore make a commitment to Christ your God, so that God can save you now. AMEN.