Recently, a fellow grandparent was babysitting for her two grandchildren. Grandma had been upstairs for a while and when she came down; she noticed that the bottom of the aquarium had been generously landscaped with fish food.
Confiscating the now empty fish food box, she tracked down her grand kids and sternly said, “Kids, there is something we need to talk about.” Two pair of guilty eyes gazed up at grandma. She sternly stated, “How many times have I told you not to feed the fish? They only need a little pinch of food and someone poured out the whole box! Do you have anything you would like to say?” Her quick-witted four year old replied, “Yes, Grandma, let’s talk about something else!” When was the last time you talked about where you will spend eternity? We talk about the weather, sports, television shows and other trivialities, but when the subject of eternity is broached, we seem to protest, “Let’s talk about something else!”
Why are we so reluctant to take time to consider our eternal destination?
Every day everyone gets ever closer to the end of this life! Doesn’t it make sense that we should be sure that when the time comes to leave this world that we are prepared for that most important trip? What could be more important to talk about than how to be sure of Heaven and how to avoid Hell?
A few years ago, I knew a man who was dying of bone cancer. A highly intelligent man, he had lived most of his years confident he didn’t need God. But in those last months, struggling with that dread disease, and missing his then departed Christian wife, I asked him if he would like to talk about how to be sure of Heaven. He readily agreed.
For two hours, we discussed a topic he had sadly avoided most of his life. We spoke of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. We examined the fascinating evidence for Christ’s resurrection. When I asked Vince, “Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life that Jesus died and rose again to provide for you?” without the slightest hesitation, he said, “Oh, yes! How can I do that?” In his hospital bed, he sincerely prayed to invite Jesus to become his Savior and Lord. Vince lived about three or four months after that decision. Two weeks before he died, he said, “Pastor, I wish I had considered Jesus long ago when I was still strong and healthy! I could have done something in return for all He did for me.” He was sorry he had not discussed it long before. Still I am glad that this time when I asked Vince if he wanted to talk about Heaven, he didn’t say, “Let’s talk about something else.”
For two hours, we discussed a topic he had sadly avoided most of his life. We spoke of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. We examined the fascinating evidence for Christ’s resurrection. When I asked Vince, “Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life that Jesus died and rose again to provide for you?” without the slightest hesitation, he said, “Oh, yes! How can I do that?” In his hospital bed, he sincerely prayed to invite Jesus to become his Savior and Lord. Vince lived about three or four months after that decision. Two weeks before he died, he said, “Pastor, I wish I had considered Jesus long ago when I was still strong and healthy! I could have done something in return for all He did for me.” He was sorry he had not discussed it long before. Still I am glad that this time when I asked Vince if he wanted to talk about Heaven, he didn’t say, “Let’s talk about something else.”
When Christians decide to obey the command of Jesus to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature,” many react to those efforts negatively. But some, like my friend, Vince, welcome such discussion.
He died in peace knowing that Heaven would be his destination.
If you lack that assurance today, I pray you will not be foolish to ignore such a crucial conversation. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, “”You shall seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart!”
