ARE YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER?

Recently, I received an invitation through the mail to a free seminar on wills and trusts. The title of the seminar—ARE YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER? This seminar, I’m sure, is designed to remind the attendees that life here on earth is going to end some time, so they need to prepare before it does. They’ll need to make their wishes known regarding their funeral arrangements and how to handle their estate. This will ensure their desires are met and there aren’t any regrets on the part of their loved ones. 

Quite frequently, very ill or terminally ill patients have also heard their medical providers admonish them to get their affairs in order: an indication that death could be imminent. The reason for the admonishment is the same—make your wishes known, so someone else doesn’t make decisions against your unspoken wishes. After all, it’s your funeral and your assets; you should have a say in how they’re handled.   

Having said all that, are your affairs in order? I am sure your answer will be one of the following: “yes,” “no,’ or “still working on it.” Please do, and do it quickly, if your answer is ‘no.’ but there is another area of life you need to get in order that is more important than how your funeral or estate is handled.

Is your soul ready for eternity, or are you going to leave that to chance? The Bible makes it clear: “Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NLT). It might not be a big deal if you can’t decide on your funeral, but it sure will be a big deal if you leave your eternity to chance. The end result of not planning for eternity will be facing God’s judgment, and being condemned to spend eternity in hell with the devil and his demons (see Matthew 25:41).

The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, {separation from God} but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 NLT). As I mentioned earlier regarding your funeral, if you don’t make your wishes known ahead of time, another person (family or friend) will make that decision for you, like it or not. You won’t have the opportunity to make changes; once you miss the window of opportunity, you’ve missed it! Likewise, if you miss the opportunity to make plans to spend eternity with God in heaven, you have automatically and non-verbally decided to go to hell.

To avoid the disappointment of not getting into heaven, you have to make plans now, and have the assurance that after this life, you’ll be with God in heaven and not with the devil in hell. It’s like making a hotel reservation ahead of a planned trip. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll be allowed in, and you’ll have a clean bed waiting for you. You won’t have to worry about being locked out (see Matthew 25:1-12).

Are you wondering how to make plans for heaven? I’ll tell you! You need to admit you’re a sinner, because the Bible says you are (see Romans 3:23), repent of your sins (see Acts 2:38), and ask God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ who died on the cross in your place and in mine. God will forgive you and put His Holy Spirit in your heart, and make sure your name is in the Book of Life (see Revelations 3:5). When you take this step, God assures you: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

Please get your affairs in order now, because tomorrow could be too late. Call on Jesus today for salvation; you can never be too early!