Where
In The Bible Will I Find:
A
Second Chance To Be Saved?
Just
as there must have been those who cried out to Noah after the door of the
Ark was shut and the water began to rise, no doubt also there will be those
who will desire just one more day, or hour, or minute, when the Judgment Day
arrives! Things of importance should be taken care of immediately when we
know the right course. Procrastination, or putting off our obeying the
Gospel, will be of eternal consequences! (Mk. 16:15 16; II Thess. 1:7-9).
All
men have a choice to make between the Lord's church and the world, right and
wrong, good and evil, the "narrow way" and the "broad
way" (Matt. 7:13-14). Yes, all men have a choice, but none will
have a second chance! "Now is the day of salvation" is the
message, while also Paul exhorts all to not "receive the grace of
God in vain" (II Cor. 6:1-2). The Hebrew writer said, "and
as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for him SHALL HE APPEAR THE SECOND TIME without sin unto salvation"
(Heb. 9:27-28).
Peter
writes to give the events of the sudden, unexpected appearance of Christ in
these words: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away
with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth
also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Pet.
3:9-10). Jesus said, "And these (the wicked. GC) shall go
away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal"
(Matt. 25:46).
All of these verses emphasize the importance of
preparation "in this life." There is no indication in the Bible
that there will be a second chance, a place called purgatory, or that after
death we can escape from Hell into Heaven. Paul wrote, "For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously and Godly IN THIS PRESENT WORLD" (Tit. 2:11-12). Obey
today! (Heb. 5:8-9).
--Gary Colley
