517. Running Out Of Tomorrows — Part One

“I got an email last night,” Stan began, “that told me that one of the people in our old neighborhood passed into eternity a few days ago.”

“Was he saved?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Stan replied, “that is between him and God.”

“But,” he continued, “I never saw any evidence that he had become a Christian.  No evidence I could see that he had accepted the finished work of Christ that would have assured him that he was going to spend eternity with God when his time here was finished.”

“Did you ever talk with him about salvation, redemption, and eternity?” I asked.

“Many times,” Stan responded, “but he always had an excuse.  He would say he didn’t have time to think about that; that he had too many other things on his plate that he wanted to get done.  ‘Maybe tomorrow,’ he would say and kind of dismiss what I had to say.”

“As I said,” Stan continued, “it is between him and God as to where he is now, but I’m kind of afraid that he may have run out of tomorrows.”

“What can you do with people like that?” I asked.  “People who don’t see any urgency in making a decision about their eternal destination?”

“I do what I can in presenting the gospel to them,” Stan replied.  “In addition to that, I make certain I pray for them often.”

Concluding, he said, “I pray that the blinders will be removed before they run out of tomorrows to make the only decision that really matters on this side of eternity.”

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And He said to another, “Follow Me.”  But he said, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.”  But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”  Luke 9:59, 60.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that you brought me to the truth of the availability of life eternally with you when it is time; that you opened me to that truth before I ran out of tomorrows to make the only decision that matters on this side of eternity.  I confess that too often I do not present the same truth to others so that they may make the same decision before it is too late.  Please forgive me.  And please help me in following your lead with each person you bring before me.  I lift to you each one of those people that they may be open to seeing and accepting your provision before they run out of tomorrows.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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Things to think (and journal) about:

1. What strikes you as the biggest take-away from this devotional?

2.    What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?

3.    What is God saying to you to do personally?

4.    Who can you share this with to make a difference?

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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.