How Do I Survive 2012?

December 21, 2012 is a date that has been predicted as the end of the world. The most widely publicized prophecy for this date is the Mayan calendar, which was constructed centuries ago and mysteriously ends on this exact date.

Scientists agree with this theory because on that day in the not so distant future, the earth and sun will align with the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, something that only happens about once every 25,000 years. Some predict this could cause a global catastrophe as the world shifts suddenly, and the North and South poles end up on the equator, causing earthquakes, flooding, storms, and volcanic action like we have never seen before.

If this isn’t chilling enough, other prophetic sources have pointed to the end of the world being sometime in the year 2012. While the Bible does not make direct reference to the year 2012, it does depict various similar events that many believe are happening right now before our very eyes. Jesus’ disciples asked him some very serious questions about when the end of the age would be. Jesus replied with this:

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:4-8

We certainly have had plenty of self-proclaimed messiahs running around and as far as wars and rumors of war, well all we need to do is to listen to the news or search the web for world events.

Are we living in the days the Jesus predicted? Is 2012 possibly the end? What if I die in 2012 and I have to stand before God? What would I say . . .  what would He say? I wonder what would be required to get into heaven?

I suppose God would require me to be a good person. Would I consider myself to be a good person? Almost everyone thinks they are a good person. But the question you really should be asking is, “Am I good enough to get into Heaven?” How would you know?

The way to find out if you are a good person or not is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments. Most people say, “Well, I’ve broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder…” So let’s go through a few of them and see how you do.

“You shall not lie.”

Have you ever told a lie? How many lies does it take to qualify to be called a liar? Just one. If you have told even one lie, that makes you a liar. So I guess most everyone is a liar and you most likely are also.

The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8). You may not think deceitfulness (lying) is a serious sin, but God does.

How about the commandment “You shall not commit adultery.”?

Jesus took this a bit further than we may have understood when he said,

“You have heard it said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Have you ever looked at another person with a lustful heart? The Bible says that adulterers and fornicators (those who have had sex before marriage) will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You shall not murder.”

Jesus talk about murder in Matthew 5:22 and warned

“Whoever is angry with his brother without cause, is in danger of judgment,”

The Apostle John said this in 1 John 3:15

“He who hates his brother is a murderer,”

God sees hatred and bitterness in our hearts to be as wicked as murder. We can violate His Law not only by action, but also by attitude and intent.

Who of us can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments? And we only looked at just three of the ten. This is what the Bible means when it says, “All have sinned.”

Based on the Ten Commandments, do you think you would be able to get into Heaven?

Most people will say, “Yes, I believe I will get into heaven”. But just as an earthly judge must punish people for crimes such as rape and murder, God must punish people for breaking His law. He will not stop with rapists and murderers — God must punish all wrongdoing (even those who do sinful things in secret).

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. You have actually angered God with your sin. His wrath abides upon you. We are all guilty and deserving of punishment – the place of eternal punishment: Hell.

Imagine you are standing in front of a judge, guilty of multiple serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. Your apologies and good works cannot erase your crimes; therefore you must be punished. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you don’t have two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence when someone you don’t even know steps in and pays your fine for you! The court accepts the money and declares that you are free to go. The law has been satisfied, your debt has been paid in full, and the stranger’s sacrifice was a demonstration of his love for you.

That’s what God did for you 2000 years ago.

The Bible says that the God of the Universe became a man (Jesus Christ), and suffered and died on the cross for your sins and mine so that we could be set free. Then he rose again from the dead and defeated death and sin! It’s as simple as this—we broke the Law, and Jesus paid our fine.

Do you see God’s great love for you? Do you see your need for His forgiveness? Do what He commands and

“Repent…that your sins may be wiped out and times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

You must turn away from sin and turn to God. Desire to have NOTHING to do with sin, and surrender your life to the One who can save you. Jesus died to set you free, and then he rose from death to be your Lord. Jesus said,

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If you will confess and forsake your sins (repent) and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, God will forgive you and you’ll pass from death to life.

What does it mean to “put your faith in Jesus Christ?”

It means to personally trust in Jesus the same way you’d trust in a parachute if you had to jump 25,000 feet out of an airplane. You wouldn’t just “believe” in the parachute; you would put it on! In the same way, the Bible says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” and you will be saved. There are millions of people who “believe” Jesus exists . . . but they have not put on the Savior—there’s a BIG difference. And the difference will be obvious when you “jump” through the door of death.

If you haven’t repented and put your faith in Jesus, I urge you to do so right now. You can pray something like this:

“Dear God, today I turn from all my sins (name them), and I put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me, and grant me your gift of everlasting life. Amen.”

There is nothing magic about these words—it is the attitude of your heart that God cares about.

If you have repented and put your faith in Jesus, congratulations! You are now breathing eternally. You will never die! Yes, your body will die, but you will live forever. God will transform you from the inside out. You will think and feel differently as you learn to trust and obey Him. God will give you new strength to live right and love Him above all else. Read your Bible daily and obey His Word. You can trust God—He loves you and will always be faithful. Constantly search out God’s meaning for your life, and He will see you through.

Remember, 2012 is not the end. It is a new beginning!

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!

John 1:12

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