And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. (Hebrews 9:27, ESV)
Most weeks on many professional golf tours around the world, players try to “Monday qualify” in hope that they will earn a spot in that week’s event. They have one chance to get in and they must shoot one of the three or so best scores to do so. It is a test of their physical skills as well as their mental ability to perform under pressure.
Amateurs like myself are required to post our score when we finish a round as an indication of how we did compared to the course we played that day. Those daily performances determine our USGA handicap index and that index is often used as the measure that allows entrance into a particular tournament.
As believers, aren’t you glad we don’t have to qualify on our own merit or post our daily score with God to see if we are good enough to get into his kingdom? I am very grateful that all God requires for us to be with him forever is to recognize our sinful condition, repent, and follow him. It has nothing to do with how “good” we are compared to others on a particular day or over the course of our life.
Today’s verse is tucked in between some others expounding on one of the great truths in the Bible. Namely, Christ came the first time to die once for the sins all of mankind, and Christ will return for his followers who are waiting for him. I must stress the importance of acknowledging those dynamics today because the Bible is clear that none of us is guaranteed tomorrow.
We often hear ‘but he was such a good person’ or ‘she had a good heart.’
Death is unavoidable. We have all been touched by it in some way. All of us have attended funerals or memorials of grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends, and even some of us for a spouse.
Several close friends have experienced the pain and sadness of death in a way that I have not. Namely, the loss of a child. For some it was after a long illness, others suddenly to natural causes or due to an accident, and tragically, a few to suicide.
Many of those who died had placed their faith in Jesus and are with our Lord and Savior now. But not all did so. And that is when it gets really hard. When there is little evidence that they were followers of Jesus, grieving is different. It is more difficult.
Jesus saves us one by one, and although we can never know what is in another person’s heart, it is hard when we are not confident that the deceased trusted Jesus for their salvation. We often hear “but he was such a good person” or “she had a good heart.” Nowhere in the Bible do find that we will get another chance after death. On the contrary, we read: “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
God is giving some of you another opportunity to receive his saving grace today. You will either accept or reject it. If you reject it, there is no guarantee there will ever be another opportunity. You cannot save your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, or your friends. Only Jesus can save them, and only Jesus can save you. You are the only one that can respond for you. If you haven’t, I urge you, don’t put it off. Today is the day of salvation!
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Marty Jacobus
August 25, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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