There is a Christian meme which states that “The only thing that is really important is that your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” I was reminded of this yesterday when my Dad passed away.
When I was growing up, he was one of those people who attended church twice a year; Easter and Christmas Eve. He had grown up in a Christian home and I still have memories of my grandfather sitting in his favorite chair reading the Bible every time I would visit. I knew my Dad must have accepted Christ as a child, and been baptized, but I didn’t know for absolute sure.
That is a troubling thought for a Christian. The Bible tells us repeatedly that we must have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and invited the Holy Spirit into our hearts in order to enjoy eternity in Heaven. As a Christian, you want every person who you love to spend eternity with Jesus in the place that He called “Paradise.” As a Christian, we hope that all people will accept Jesus and spend eternity in Heaven.
In 2012, I emailed my Dad and asked him to humor me and read the page that I linked to in the email. That page was the “about” page of this website. (here) On the about page is a prayer to accept Jesus. It is simple and only takes a minute to read. Saying that prayer, and living in a new spirit-filled life, will lead you to Heaven. My Dad replied to my email the same day and said he read the page (and prayer).
Today, a day after he died, that knowledge gives me great peace. He joins my grandparents, my Mom and step-Mother in Paradise for all eternity. If he had not accepted Jesus as a child, and he had not read that prayer, the alternative would have been awful. His death would have been 10 times more painful for me today and for the rest of my life.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, go to the about page of this website right now and pray the simple prayer. Then, try to live as Jesus lived and do your best to avoid sin. You may want to go to a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church and also be baptized. Your life will change for the better and you will know, when you die, that your name will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
You will understand why this website is called News of Joy.
I will miss my Dad every day, but the knowledge that he is with Jesus today, and free of any pain or the constraints of his aging body, are a blessing and a comfort.