The Most Important Question

God lives and works today. As we face the new year, perhaps our hearts are filled with questions about what the future will bring. But before we can begin to look ahead, we really ought to stop for a minute and take stock of what has happened in the past year.

In view of all that has happened to us and around us, one question is of utmost importance. What is this question? Listen to the following program, a testimony from the life of Basilea Schlink. Not long ago, I stood at the deathbed of someone who was very close to me.

I was amazed at how much he had lived, according to this Bible verse, during his last few years. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Without sparing himself, he had opened himself to the holiness of God in his questions.

Have you overcome your sins and temptations? What were your thoughts directed towards, and your work? Did you seek God and his kingdom, or only earthly, perishable things? Did you serve sin with your tongue and the other members of your body, or did you serve God? Were you reconciled with everyone? What have you sown? Now you must render account. This person, who had opened himself to God's holiness, brought his sins to Jesus with a repentant heart, and when it was necessary, confessed them to others. As an overcomer, he passed away in great peace and in the radiance of eternity.

We are now at the end of a year, and that has brought us a bit closer to eternity. How would we answer if we were suddenly called to the judgment seat of God? Then there will be nothing more that we can do. We will have to face the question, can God give us the crown of life? If we begin the new year with unforgiven sin, Satan holds us in the palm of his hand.

We are frustrated and unhappy. Jesus departs from our lives and withdraws his peace and his joy. And what is more, in eternity one day we will regret it terribly.

Then we will be excluded from the kingdom of God forever. But if we confess our sins, Jesus will come to us. He imparts forgiveness through his blood.

For repentant hearts, he will open the door to his kingdom of peace and joy. Do I belong to those who are truly repentant? That is the most important question at the end of a year. That covers the evil I've done.

Sees only Jesus, the Son. Father of grace, Father of grace, of grace, of eternal grace. You've been listening to a program by Baselia Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan.

To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaaninthedesert.com. That's C-A-N-A-A-N-inthedesert.com. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.