It was his last

April 1, opening day of the ’96 baseball season in Cincinnati, Ohio at Riverfront Stadium, 53,000 fans excitedly watched as the first pitch streaked across the plate.  The air was crisp and cool and the sun beamed warmly from the heavens as Umpire John McSherry situated himself behind home plate to call the balls and strikes of the Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos.  Seven pitches later McSherry stepped back from the plate, called for a timeout and then stumbled to his knees and crumpled to the ground.  Within an hour he would be pronounced dead of a massive heart attack.  Just 51 years old, McSherry was doing what he loved and what he had done for twenty five years, but this day was different, it was his last. 

One day, you will take your last breath; it could be today.  Within the next 24 hours over 155,500 babies, toddlers, teens, young adults and the elderly will be among those that will breathe their last breath and exit to meet their Creator.  John McSherry had no idea that April 1, 1996 would be his last day to live.  He had planned to go to the doctor on April 2.  If today were to be your last day, would you spend your eternity in heaven or hell?  You can make ready for heaven before it is too late if you will not procrastinate. 

What can you do to be ready?  The correct answer does not lie in religion, good works, or personal opinions.  Jesus Christ said of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me,” (John 14:6).  God’s word, the Bible tells us we must come to God believing what it says about His Son, Jesus Christ and believing what it says about us.  We must believe that we are sinners and deserving of death and eternal damnation.  We must believe that Jesus is Lord (God), and that He died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried and rose again three days later.  The Scriptures also tell us that who ever will call upon the name of the Lord, will be saved (delivered from sin, made a child of God).  You can read about this for yourself in the Bible, St. John 3, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:9-13.

We have a great, brief audio course that explains what it means to be born again (becoming a child of God).  You can listen today and share with a friend about it: 10600 Doctrine Of The New Birth, and for Teens: 70100 It All Starts With A Relationship.