It has been well pointed out that if men and women applied the same attitudes towards their eternal life as they do toward their temporal and present life, then how many changes there would be in many a life. For example: -
1. Is it not an accepted rule of life that people have a certain amount of fear of whatever is liable to hurt them and do them damage? This is, surely, a fairly accepted attitude in people's thinking. Why then are people not afraid of sin, seeing that there is nothing that will hurt a person more than sin - both in this life and in that life which is to come.
2. Is it not also an accepted practice never to trust a known deceiver? "Once bitten twice shy," we sometimes say; and if someone has proved to be deceitful, we are normally very wary about trusting what they say or do again. Why then do people trust Satan - that old serpent the devil, and the arch-deceiver of this world.
3. Do most people not accept the wisdom of laying up something towards their old age? "Against a rainy day," is the usual expression. Why then do people not think of making provision against the day of God's judgment and reckoning with men. If it is felt that some "assurance" is needed for a future day - which may never come to us anyway - why do people not accept the assurance of being safe in the eternal day by entrusting their lives now into the hands of God, through faith in Jesus Christ His Son.
4. Is it not still a general thought that we should "give to them that give to us?" "It's only fair," we say, "If so-and-so has been good to me, then I will look out for a way to return that good to them." Why then do we not "give thanks unto the Lord," as the Bible says, "for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." The apostle Paul says that God gives to all - "Life, and breath, and all things;" he says that in Him "we live, and move, and have our being." Why then - if God has given so much - why won't men follow their own general rule, and give back to God something of their lives that they have from Him.
5. Finally, is it still not a feature of human nature to feel some relief and even gladness when some good news is brought with regards to a serious situation? Surely, that is so; "Well at least," we say, "it could have been worse." Why then won't people, in general, refuse to react as they ought to do with regards to the good news of God's way of salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ His Son. The gospel - which simply means, "Good News," - comes into the most serious situation that could possibly be. Mankind has sinned against God, and God has declared that He will punish for that sin. But, the good news of the gospel says - "Believe, and you shall not come into God's judgment." Why then don't people receive that good news gladly, when it is a practice to receive good news in that way. Why then don't they follow any of those normal attitudes that they apply to their present life when it comes to their eternal life.
A question worth answering.
(From the Inverness Reformed Baptist Church Quarterly Magazine.)