On July 31, I received a text from my friend Terry Young, letting me know that his wife Joy had laid down for a nap that day & woke up in Heaven.  At first I couldn’t believe it -  my dear friend Joy was much too full of life to be gone - but she was.  Joy was known for exclaiming at every opportunity, “The best is yet to come!" & for her the best had come.   

When Terry found Joy that afternoon, she was lying on their bed with her Bible open to Psalm 46 and was in the middle of writing a note of encouragement to some fellow bereaved parents.  She lived to serve others, and to remind everyone she knew about the hope we have in Jesus, and she did that right up until the moment she stepped into Heaven.  She had no greater desire than for others to know Jesus personally and by re-releasing this episode, I’d like to give her one more opportunity to make that appeal.   Joy didn’t know when she laid down that day that God was going to take her home, but she was ready to go.  As you listen today, please make sure you’re ready too.  Joy herself is going to tell you how you can have that assurance & know that the best is yet to come!  

Plan of salvation:  

Realize you are a sinner. No matter how good a life we try to live, we still fall miserably short of being a 'good person.' That's because we're all sinners. We fall short of God's desire for us to be holy. The Bible says, 'No one is righteous - not even one' (Rom. 3:10). 

 Recognize that Jesus died on the cross for you.  'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners' (Rom. 5:8 ). This is the good news, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it.

Repent of your sin. The Bible tells us to 'repent therefore and be converted' (Acts 3:19). The word 'repent' means 'to change our direction in life.' Instead of running away from God, run toward him.

Receive Jesus in your life. Being a Christian is not just believing some creed or going to church on Sunday. Being a Christian is allowing Christ himself to take residence in your life and heart. Jesus said, 'Behold, I stand at the door [of your life] and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in' (Rev. 3:20).

If you haven't invited Jesus into your life, pray a sincere prayer like this one:  'Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. I turn from my sin & open the door of my heart & life. I confess

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** IMPORTANT** - All views expressed by guests on this podcast are theirs alone, and may not represent the Statement of Faith and Statement of Beliefs of the While We're Waiting ministry.

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