When I Get Older…
When sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with folks I often hear, “I’ll get right with God when I am older, or when I am on my death bed.” My heart cringes to hear such words of disdain towards God. Our young and bold minds and hearts think that we are immortal and will live forever. However, we know all too well that life is a vapor and both the young and the old die – often unexpectedly. Scripture tells us that today is the day of salvation. It is a call to not put off turning to Christ in repentance and faith.
It would be rare to hear an unbeliever never catch themselves telling Satan when tempted, “not today, let me put this sin off until later in life”, yet they tell God to stand aside all the time. It’s a true indication of the heart of man. A heart that is evil and stony. It is why the gospel is such great news. For it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. (Rom. 1:16)
Thomas Watson, one of the great Puritans, penned in his excellent book, “The Beatitudes” the following on the folly of so called death bed repentance. I agree with his evaluation…
To put off our solemn turning to God till old age, or sickness, is high imprudence, because these late acts of devotion are for the most part dissembled and spurious. Though true morning for sin be never too late, yet late mourning is seldom true. That repentance is seldom true-hearted which is gray-headed. It is disputable whether these autumn tears are not shed more out of fear of hell than love to God. The mariner in a storm throws his goods overboard, not but that he loves them, but he us afraid they will sink the ship. When men fall to weeping-work late and would cast their sins overboard, it is for the most part only for fear lest they should sink the ship and drown in hell. It is a great question whether the sick-bed penitent does not mourn because he can keep his sins no longer. All which considered may make men take heed of running their souls upon such a desperate hazard as to put all their work for heaven upon the last hour.”
If you have been living this way, thinking that you will either have the opportunity to repent and trust in Christ in your old age or that you are the captain of your life and know what tomorrow holds I urge you to take great heed of the seriousness of the condition of your soul. God’s wrath rightly abides on all outside of Jesus Christ. Cry out to God and ask Him to grant you true faith and repentance – for today is the day of salvation.
Soli Deo Gloria
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