ANOTHER QUESTION REMAINS to be faced: Is there another chance to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior in the next life? Of course I do not know; I can only surmise. Knowing the character of God as seen in Jesus Christ, I can surmise this: everybody will be given an adequate chance to decide whether they will be in Christ or in themselves, either in this life or in the life to come. Some have had an adequate chance in this life to be in Christ and have decided against it. They decide to be in themselves. They have chosen death, and if they take death out with them they will have death forever. Whether or not they have had an adequate chance, only a wise and good God knows. He must decide. Some have not had an adequate chance, however—the vast non-Christian world; those in so-called Christian lands who for one reason or another never have had a real chance to say yes or no to Him. These, I believe, will be given an adequate opportunity to accept or reject Him.
Can we preach the gospel of a second chance in another life? No, for we are not certain whether the person concerned has had his adequate chance. We can only preach the gospel of an adequate chance—here or there. That leaves the responsibility on the individual; here or there he must decide, and the only safe thing is to decide now. This moment may be your adequate chance.
The conclusion: the redemptive love of God is not exhausted in this life or that, but we may exhaust our ability to receive the love of God—and perish.
O Father God, we thank Thee that if we are willing to receive, even the slightest willingness to receive. Thy grace is there with open arms. Nothing, nothing blocks Thy redemptive grace save our wills, and our wills are ours. Save us. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: If any soul is lost, he will only be able to look within and say, “I am responsible.”
