When Is Your Expiration Date?

Wandering through the grocery store picking up mac & cheese, a bag of chips, a pound of coffee, and a gallon of orange juice, you can't help but see the expiration dates on the items you are buying.

Have you ever wondered just when is your expiration date? Is today the day the big guy in the sky is coming to save you from Satan's Kingdom? No one knows the date, time, or place they will expire from earth. Nobody except our Sovereign Lord.

When you get dizzy, have shortness of breath, chest discomfort, and it appears you are facing death head-on...suddenly the big TV, the shiny car, the huge house, and the big job don't seem to be such a big deal anymore. Your Little League All-Star Trophy, State Fair Ribbons, and Governor's Community Betterment Award...all of this means nothing as you are checking out from this planet!

It's time to meet your maker. This is your BIG day. Is the run across the street to help the neighbor lady unload her Subaru Outback full of groceries going to come up as you are judged? How about the time you got a car load of neighbor kids together and took them to get ice cream on a hot summer day? You have done some nice things during your life for others.

God has a lot different idea of what a nice guy is than what most people think. How many times have you seen on the news neighbors being interviewed at a crime scene? A man has murdered his wife, kids and killed himself, and the neighbors testify, "Chad was a great guy. Always saw him doing things with his kids. Volunteered a lot in our community." The people can't stop saying what a great guy Chad 'the murderer' was.

You don't know if you are heading down hill fast to the end of the road. Is your expiration day today? Is it in 10 days to two weeks? Or is it a year or more? We just don't know. But one thing I can guarantee you. You can't cancel your appointment with God when he has come to get you. You got to be ready!

You need to admit to God that you are a sinner and repent for your sin. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out," (Acts 3:19). Tell him that you believe he died and rose again to save you from your sin and to give you eternal life as "Christ died for sins once for all." (1 Peter 3:18).

Trust in Jesus, who was God in the flesh, who died on the cross to pay for your sins, that you might be saved. Sin is separation from God. You can be delivered from sin by accepting this free gift that is given to us by the grace of God. There must be an individual response from you.

You can't be saved by good works, or by living with good morals, or by displaying appropriate social concern. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12). "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).

Put your faith in God and accept his free gift of salvation. Don't lose focus on your home in gloryland that outshines the sun! Be in HOT pursuit of the unlimited Lord of the Holy scriptures!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Rick Hawbaker
'Sinner'