Only One Life Twill Soon Be Past, Only What's Done For Christ Will Last

1st Peter 1:13-18, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;”

I love that passage of Scripture. The Bible admonishes us as believers to "pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" Why fear? Simply because we must give account to God someday in eternity for our very words (Matthew 12:36), our thoughts (Proverbs 24:12), and our deeds (Ecclesiastes 12:14). 2nd Corinthians 5:9-11 warns that every believer will face “THE TERROR OF THE LORD.” In Psalms 6:1 David begged God not to chasten him in “Thy hot displeasure.” People today have lost their fear of God because of our decadent, depraved and degenerate culture in America, but God is greatly to be feared my friend. If you're not afraid now, you will be. YOU WILL BE!!! Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

The Degeneration Of Our Nation
(Brother Lester Roloff, 1914-1982)

Sadly, we've got a bunch of wimps for pastors today, like Jeff Redlin at Campus Church on the property of Pensacola Christian College (PCC). PCC needs a much better pastor to lead and influence their students. It is tragic that PCC's leaders have chosen a Caspar Milquetoast type of guy, lacking genuine compassion for hurting people, lacking a fervent zeal for soulwinning, lacking the balls to STAND against the Calvinist cult at Bob Jones University (BJU).

In July of 2021 Pastor Jeff Redlin foolishly critiqued my ministry, deriding me for "finding weaknesses" in other preachers. The truth is that I am faithfully contending "for the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 1:3), "REBUKING THEM SHARPLY" (Titus 1:10-13), exposing the damnable Calvinist doctrine of devils being preached by Dr. Steve Pettit at BJU today. Instead of joining me in the battle of the ages to defend the inspiration of God's Word, Redlin chooses rather to side with the enemy, bidding Godspeed to evildoers instead of exposing them (Romans 16:17-18).

Charles Thomas Studd, often known as "C. T. Studd" (2 December 1860[1] – 16 July 1931), was a British missionary, a contributor to 'The Fundamentals,' and a cricketer. Pastor Studd is famous for writing the following Christ-honoring masterpiece of poetry:

Only One Life

Missionary C. T. Studd (1860-1931)

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;

Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ’twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Amen and amen! This writing is right up there with Missionary Jim Elliot's (1927-1956) famous statement: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose." Elliot was martyred as a missionary, one of five people killed during Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador.

Dear reader, this life will be over before we know it. What are you doing for God? Or better said, what are you allowing God to do THROUGH YOU for the cause of Jesus Christ. The world is full of beautiful people, but every single one of them will be dead in 150 years. There were billions of handsome young men and gorgeous young women during the 18th century, but they are all dead now!

Emma Martina Luigia Morano OMRI (November 29, 1899 – April 15, 2017) was an Italian supercentenarian who, before her death at the age of 117 years and 137 days, was the world's oldest living person whose age had been verified, and the last living person to have been verified as being born in the 1800s. THEY'RE ALL GONE!!! There's nobody still alive from the 1800's. Dear friend, your time is soon coming, and mine also, when we will go the way of the dead. But the Holy Bible gives us a remarkable promise, like no other book in existence—the promise of eternal life through simple childlike faith in Jesus Christ.

Jim Elliot, the missionary I just mentioned, came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at age 6. I got saved at age 13. Pastors' Jack Hyles and Curtis Hutson both were saved at age 11. Pastor Steven Anderson was also saved at the tender age of 6. I have read statistically that 80% of all Christians got saved before the age of 18. I certainly believe that percentage. 

What saith the Scripture? Luke 18:16-17, "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." This passage doesn't mean that only biological children can be saved. It means that unless you humble yourself as a little child, yielding yourself to the 'Good News' (Gospel) of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and resurrected three days later, you won't go to Heaven (1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

To be born-again, you must humble yourself to admit that you need a Savior. You must humble yourself to place all your trust in the only begotten Son of God. A lot of wealthy people resent the very idea of putting their faith in a poor Jewish carpenter from Nazareth, who they have never seen, to take them to a place they've never been. Rich people often think they already have a form of heaven on earth, so they disregard warnings from the Holy Bible.

The rich man who died and went to Hell, in Luke 16:19-32, pleaded with Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead, to warn the rich man's five living brothers. Abraham made a startling statement in Luke 16:31, “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” Dear reader, if you will not take heed to the inspired written Word of God, then you've already made your decision, and nothing else will sway your decision. God said that, not me.

Salvation is YOU taking GOD at His Word as recorded in the Holy Bible. That is the only part that we have in getting saved, to simply BELIEVE what God has recorded in His Word about the death, burial and resurrection of His dear only begotten Son, Jesus. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Dear friend, what will anything matter 100 years from now? We all know what it is like to have our feelings hurt, sometimes deeply wounded. I sure have, more times that I care to remember throughout my lifetime. But I learned something many years ago that changed my life for the better. I started carrying Gospel tracts with me wherever I went. When someone hurt my feelings, I handed them a Gospel tract, taking things to a higher level. By doing that I was able to bury my hurt feelings in the Gospel, knowing that I took everything to a higher level for God. I encourage you to do the same thing. When someone is unkind or mean to you, share the Gospel with them, and you'll see how much that changes your whole attitude.

When I have a bad day, am worried or something doesn't go right, I write an article for my blog. It really helps. Dear friend, life is so short. I had a friend one time debate with me, saying that I was wrong. He said that life is a lot longer than short. Well, that all depends on how long you have to live! Today could be the last day of your life and mine. Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” So you see, we simply don't know how much time we have remaining on earth. I'm sure you've seen the popular TV series called: "1,001 Ways To Die!" I was amazed to learn some of the bizarre freakish ways that people died.

The Apostle Paul said to live is Christ, but to die is gain. Only a child of God can say something like that. I did a study on cryogenic storage of dead humans! Literally, there are organizations that for a hefty fee of $40,000 plus, will lop off your head when you die and freeze it (and your whole body if you pay $140,000), in hopes of someday transferring your brain or its data into a cloned body. Folks, I can assure you that no such science fiction will ever happen in man's world. The crazy thing is that God has already given us a solemn promise of eternal life, free for the taking by faith alone to anyone who wants it. I love God so much for the gift of His dear only begotten Son, Jesus. John 3:16, “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We only have one life here on earth. If you want to live forever, then you are going to need another body. What saith the Scripture? Philippians 3:20-21, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” If you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you have God's promise of a new body someday (at the Rapture - 1st Corinthians 15:52-58). The Lord Himself will raise us up. Mortality shall become immortality by the power of God.

It blows my mind that rich people would rather pay hundreds of thousands of dollars, to have their dead body frozen in liquid nitrogen and trust humanity (they'd end up putting your head on backwards...lol); than to simply BELIEVE the Good News (Gospel) of the Lord Jesus Christ to receive God's free gift of forgiveness of sin and eternal life. As you know, nothing in this world is free, not even eternal life! Jesus paid your debt of sin friend. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe because He loves you, and because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Romans 6:23 teaches that the wages (just rewards) for our sin is death. This includes both the physical death (Hebrews 9:27), and the second death in Hell (Revelation 20:6; 21:8). Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

I don't know about you, but I got saved when I was 13 years old, and it was bar none the BEST decision I ever made. I can rejoice night and day, regardless of what happens in my life from day to day, KNOWING that my name is written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). I KNOW I am saved, not because I am good and faithful, but because God is good and faithful. Listen, you don't have to be good to go to Heaven, you've got to be PERFECT! Even one sin will keep you out of Heaven (1st Corinthians 6:9-10; James 2:10). That is why we all need to be washed in the precious blood of the Lamb of God (1st Corinthians 6:11; John 1:29; Revelation 1:5; 1st John 1:7; 1st Peter 1:18-19). John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Make sure you are born-again dear friend. If you are, then get busy serving God (Romans 12:1-2). Get busy living for Jesus by sharing the Gospel with lost sinners, helping other people in Jesus' name (the poor, the hurting and people in need), and use whatever gifts and resources God has given to you for the cause of Christ. Time is of the essence. The window of opportunity to serve God and win souls is closing. When we die our time is up! Ephesians 5:16, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Colossians 4:5, "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."