Since You Don’t Know The Future

Since You Don’t Know The Future ...“It could be tonight, tomorrow, or sometime next year. Only the Lord knows.”As a teenager, Johnny Wilson must have heard the Good News about Jesus Christ at least four times a week. During his senior year in high school, every Monday through Thursday he was confronted by a Christian classmate named James Milton. Each day in the school’s gym, Milton would tell him, “Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone!” Then he’d say, “You know, Johnny, since you don’t know the future, why not accept Christ now while you can?” “I have plenty of time,” said Wilson. “Right now, I’m young and there’s lots to do!” Smiling, he added, “Can’t you see I have a big future? Can’t you see the girls I have? This is life, man! This is it!” Milton paused for a moment and said quietly, “Johnny, I can give you all the time you want to make this decision, but I don’t know how much time the Lord will give you. It could be tonight, tomorrow, or sometime next year. Only the Lord knows.” Despite all of Milton’s efforts, nothing was accomplished. The following year, Milton joined the Army. From his assignment in Fort Riley, Kansas, he called home one Saturday morning to talk to his family. His sister, Barbara, answered the phone and immediately asked, “Did you know Johnny Wilson?” “Yeah, I sure did,” said Milton. “As much as I preached to him, I could never forget him. What about Johnny?” “Just last night,” Barbara said, “he went to a nearby club for a few beers – to get high. The next thing we knew, he ended up at his grandmother’s house, which caught fire. The house burned with him in it.” “What?” Milton asked. She sniffled, and with a trembling voice, said, “His body was so burned, it had to be picked up in a plastic bag.” Like Wilson, many people might lose out by placing too much premium on the future. We so often refuse to take the present under consideration. My friend, since you don’t know the future, why not accept Christ into your life – before it is too late? You can come to Him just as you are. He loves you: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). You can receive Him as your Savior by simply calling on His name: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). To call on His name means you believe that He actually died for your sins, arose from the dead on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven. If you believe this, then pray: “Lord, I admit I am a sinner. Forgive me of all my sins. Because You died for me and rose from the dead, I ask You to come into my heart and be my Savior and my Lord.” If you have taken this step of faith, please write to us at one of the addresses below and we will send you the New Believer’s Packet to help you in your walk with God. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roscoe Barnes III, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, accepted Jesus as his Savior at 15, and has been spreading the Good News ever since. He is an award-winning writer and journalist who has worked for a number of publications in eastern and southern USA.