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All of us have pondered the question, "What if...?" It may be something as simple as, "What if I turn left at this intersection instead of right?" "What if I take the day off work today; will the world stop if I don't go in?"

Or, maybe it's a little more serious. "What if I quit my job today and embark on a new career?" Many times have I lay in bed and wondered, "What if I had done such and such differently today? How are things going to be different tomorrow because of the decisions I have made today?"

Maybe you said some things to someone today that you wish you had not said. And because of it, your relationship with that person has been damaged. What if you hadn't said those things? It's so easy to look back and say, "What if I'd done that differently?"

Hindsight is always better than foresight. We can easily look back and see what has transpired in comparison with what could have been, once it has happened. The trouble is, once it happens, it's too late.

The ideal situation is that we consider "what if..." before we make that decision, or say those words. Easier said than done, though, right?

I remember a story that Jesus told in the Bible that is a fine example of "what if..." in Luke 16. I won't use the whole story, but just a part of it.
There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot: neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, Father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
(vv. 19-27)
There is more to that story, but you can clearly see that the rich man was considering the "what if" question very clearly. What if he had shown mercy to Lazarus? What if he had practiced what was being taught in the temple weekly about the law of Moses?

What if he had followed after God instead of his riches? What if he had given to the poor instead of seeing them as a nuisance? What if he had only done things differently? What if, what if?

Suddenly now, "what if" was very real to him. He was finally concerned about someone other than himself, that being his five brothers. But it was too late now. He should have considered "what if" earlier.

But it's not too late for you if you're reading this article. You can look at the fate of the rich man who went to hell and ask yourself "What if my life were to end today? Where will I spend all eternity—heaven, or hell?"

You might ask, "Is there really anything I can do to make a difference?" Yes, there is. It isn't about whether you're rich or poor, young or old, that will decide if you wind up in hell. It's only about one thing. Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you made Him the Lord of your life, or are you the captain of your own ship?

Perhaps you've genuinely meant to make Jesus your Lord one day, but have never "gotten around to it." Maybe you think you have to clean up your life first, before God will accept you.

Not so. He will clean you up. Just come as you are. Or maybe you're just having too much fun living unsaved, thinking hell is for "bad people." You'd never end up in a place like that, because basically, you're a good person.

Sad to say, there will be many "good people" who will end up in hell, wondering why, because they had never committed adultery, nor robbed anyone, nor killed anyone. They may even have been regular churchgoers and done many good things for their fellow man.

But since they neglected, or even refused, to ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, they will be counted among the lost and unsaved, bound to the Lake of Fire forever.

But I'm not wasting any more time talking about other people. Let's talk about you. Let's cut through all the fluff and get to what really matters; are you ready to meet Jesus? What if today is the last day of your life? I'm not trying to scare you or upset you. I'm just wanting you to ask yourself, "What if?"

Because if you make Jesus your Lord and Savior today, in 10,000 years from now, you'll still be thanking me for asking you that question.

You see, I really do care about you. And even more importantly, Jesus cares about you, so much that He died on the cross for your sins so you could be saved. I don't want you to end up in hell, asking yourself "what if...?"

It's better you ask today while there's still time to do something about it! We don't have a guarantee of tomorrow, or even of our next heartbeat. It's time to stop putting it off. Make your salvation sure, right now.

Settle that and you'll never worry about "what if" again! You don't know how to do this? Let's pray:

Father God in heaven, I'm sorry for my sins. I believe Christ Jesus died for my sins and I ask Him to save me now and be the Lord of my life from this day forward. I confess Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and ask You to fill me with the Holy Spirit now. I ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright © Life Healing Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Author Biography

Jerry Baysinger
Web site: Life Healing Ministries
 
Jerry Baysinger was a twenty-one-and-a-half-year civilian employee of Missouri State Highway Patrol and operator of his own successful furniture repair business, when in 1993, he was diagnosed with five melanomas and liver cancer. Given a month to live, he resigned from the Patrol and went home to die.
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