God’s Mercy Can Guarantee Good Living And A Peaceful Death.
“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness“. Isaiah 57:1, 2
God’s Mercy Can Guarantee Good Living And A Peaceful Death
How and where you are born is very important, but how you leave this world is even more critical. What you go through here on earth doesn’t matter so much. What matters most is your later end on earth. Wise people think more about their end and eternity than their earthly lives. You can make amends now, but when your end comes, there will be no more opportunities for amendment. Where and how you were born, or even the class of family you were born into, doesn’t matter much because you can change the situation. But once you die, everything stands still and can never change.
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead“. Luke 16:19, 22, 27-31.
Preparing for Eternity Now
Safety, preservation, and eternal rest become possible when the mercy of God is obtained. The rich man had all the time to prepare for eternity, but he used all his time to accumulate wealth and to live in pleasure. He realized his mistakes too late, but you and I still have all the opportunity to amend our ways. We are called to honor God, give Him our lives, and live for Him to avoid regret.
Lessons from the Days of Noah
When Noah was talking to the people of his generation, just like I am talking now, they mocked him. They never planned for their end until it was too late. Immediately, Noah entered the ark and closed the door; the whole world faced the rain of judgment. Some still mocked him when he was about to close the last door. They had the opportunity even at the eleventh hour, but they bid him bye mockingly. There are people whose last day on earth may be today, within a few hours or minutes, but they are unprepared. Counting yourself out and saying it’s not your portion is inconsequential.
“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days“. Genesis 7:21-24
Immediately, Noah closed the door; the flood came non-stop for forty days. The flood prevailed over every mountain, building, power, and all the wealth of the earth that men trusted in. All flesh and everything that moved upon the world died.
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
This same thing happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot went to his relatives to persuade them to leave the city with him, but they saw him as foolish.
“And Lot went out, spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou become thither. Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt“. Genesis 19:14, 23-24, 26
Immediately after Lot left the city, there was a rain of fire from heaven, and everything entrusted was burnt to ashes. All the wealth, pleasure, lust, sexual appointments, parties, and business meetings were overthrown by fire. The evil forces behind the earthly investment of Lot’s wife pulled her backward until she looked back to the world and turned into a pillar of salt. Lot’s sons-in-law, his married daughters, herders, servants, and his investments in the city were consumed by fire. If you are wise, you will know that this world is not a permanent place.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
The Judgment That All Should Be Prepared For
Death brings all your appointments with anyone or thing here on earth to an end and presents to you the last appointment, judgment. This judgment has no appeal because once you are justified or condemned it can no longer be reversed or rejected. If you believe there’s eternity, you will change your motive and prepare for your end. The truth is that hell is real and heaven is real whether you believe it or not. Your death, the coming of Jesus Christ, maybe sooner than you think or expect. Immediately you die, grace and mercy will expire. But now, grace and mercy are beckoning on you and saying, ‘Come.’ The mercy of God ensures your peaceful end here on earth.
“And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:” 1 Chronicles 17:11-13
Everyone has an appointed time with a date you don’t know except God alone.
You Need To Be Adequately Prepared For Life After Death.
You are hearing this word to prepare for that appointment before it takes you unaware. One day, your days on earth will expire, and you will have no option but to answer the call. When your days on earth expire, you must join the dead, either in heaven or in hell fire. Whether you like it or not, a day is coming when another person will take your place here on earth. Your sin partner that is keeping you away from God now will not stop that day when you will be taken out of this earth. Business, pleasures, immorality, or worldly ambition will be left behind, but you will follow that day to expire here. That day will accompany you to the judgment seat; it will take you away and hand you over to the angel of life or death. Your sin partner, wife, children, and friends will not stop or follow you that day. Your doctor, best friend, or God’s mercy will not fight for you that day.
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee“. 2 Samuel 7:12-15
God will raise another person to take over your place on earth, and you will never return here again forever and ever. All your loved ones will take your empty container, your flesh, and dump it into the grave and abandon it there. They will return to their places, including your wife, children, and best friends. All your investments, including your boyfriends and girlfriends, will be taken over by another. You will return to your maker for judgment and will be judged.
God’s Promise of an Established Kingdom
God’s promise for those who have obtained mercy is that He will set up our seeds. Don’t allow anything, be it your children’s school fees, feeding, your marriage, or academics, to take you to hellfire. Commit every problem to God, and do not let any challenge hinder you from preparing for the end. God’s mercy will care for your end, so pray and seek divine mercy.