Do you know who you really are? You’re made in the image of God. You were made to glorify God. You were made for God, and without God there’s an empty place in your life. That could be filled right now, simply by surrendering to Jesus Christ.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-2, 4, Paul said, “In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” We’re searching for pleasure, for happiness, for kicks, and we get them temporarily. But then comes the morning after. And the kick has a kickback.
On the other hand, the psalmist said, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Not the pleasure of a moment, but forever.
The only people I know anywhere who really have complete pleasure and happiness and joy are those who know Jesus Christ. Oh, there could be tears and problems and difficulties. It’s not easy to be a Christian. But when the Holy Spirit takes full control of you, it becomes the most exciting, the most thrilling, the most challenging, the most adventuresome life in the world.
People today also seek instant sex instead of true love. They say, “I want it now. I’m not willing to wait for true love.” They have erotic love, but agapé love—God’s love—they don’t know anything about. Come to Christ and find true love.
And they seek instant wealth instead of true treasures. We’re living in the most affluent society the world has ever known. When I come back to America from abroad, I can’t believe the wealth in this country. Many people who are poor around the world are saying, “I want it, and I want it now.” I try to tell them that all of America’s wealth hasn’t made us a happy nation. It hasn’t solved our problems. Because true wealth is spiritual wealth. Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24-25).
Oh, a rich person can get to Heaven. There’s nothing wrong with being rich if you got it honestly, and if you’re a good steward, and if you share it. But some want to get it—and get it now. And so they are lying and cheating and stealing.
“He who trusts in his riches will fall,” the Scripture says (Proverbs 11:28). I’ve never seen a funeral in which, behind the hearse, there was a U-Haul trailer going out to the graveyard. You can’t take it with you. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Do you have treasures in Heaven? What’s your bank account like in Heaven? If you’ve got a big bank account in hell, you had better change banks. I’m serious. You can’t take it with you. You leave it all behind. And the only thing that counts is your relationship with Jesus Christ.
God said through Isaiah, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow’” (Isaiah 1:18). Wouldn’t it be wonderful to take all of your scarlet sins today and have them as white as snow? Jesus can do it. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
The greatest word in all the world is forgiveness. Are you forgiven? Are you sure of it? Are you certain that God has forgiven you? Well, that’s why Christ died on the cross; and that’s why He rose again—so that you might be forgiven.
The Bible says, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Come to Jesus now.
When I was preaching a few months ago, there were two 18-year-old boys in the audience. And when I gave the appeal, they turned to each other and said, “Shall we go?” One said, “Yes,” and the other said, “No.” They talked a little bit, and they both decided to accept Christ. A few weeks later, they were flying an airplane. They got caught in a storm in the mountains. The plane crashed, and they both went into the presence of Christ. What if they had said “No”? What if they had put it off? I’ll see those two boys in Heaven because one night they came to Christ.
Now is your moment—right this instant. Do I believe in instant salvation? I certainly do. Open your heart to Christ right now. Say “Yes” to Him.