Without fear of contradiction, it could be said that a substantial part of life is taken up with meetings. In the last while, meetings have morphed into 'virtual meetings' via Skype, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, and Zoom. GoToMeeting and the like.
These may be unimportant, or they could be life-changing. We hear folks say, “We’ll meet to discuss it over a cup of coffee.” I heard one mother say to another, “It’s our son’s birthday on Saturday week, and we’ll need to meet to arrange the catering.”
Then some have seemingly endless meetings at work, reporting to different people about turnover, output, personnel difficulties, sick leave, etc. Perhaps an appointment to meet the doctor would be more serious. Taking another step up the ladder of importance, some say, “I had a scan last week, and the oncologist wants to meet with my husband and me to discuss the results.” We can decide whether or not we will keep the appointment or we can change the date or time.
However, there is a meeting, an appointment, that we must keep, and we have no input as to where or when. It is an appointment that God makes, and it involves not the passing moments of time but the never-ending aeons of eternity.
Many mystical religions teach reincarnation, but God’s Word, the Bible, rejects such teaching, stating, “It is appointed unto men once to die.” Not twice or more. If death was the terminus and then we were annihilated, we need not worry, but Scripture goes on to state, “but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9.27.
The solemnity of this has also been revealed by the Old Testament prophet Amos. He taught that after death, there is an appointment which we must keep: “Prepare to meet thy God” Amos 4.12. This meeting is in eternity, but the preparation is in time. Such raises another question: “Why be concerned about this meeting? Is God not so loving and kind that He never would judge anyone?”
Many mystical religions teach reincarnation, but God’s Word, the Bible, rejects such teaching, stating, “It is appointed unto men once to die.” Not twice or more. If death was the terminus and then we were annihilated, we need not worry, but Scripture goes on to state, “but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9.27.
The solemnity of this has also been revealed by the Old Testament prophet Amos. He taught that after death, there is an appointment which we must keep: “Prepare to meet thy God” Amos 4.12. This meeting is in eternity, but the preparation is in time. Such raises another question: “Why be concerned about this meeting? Is God not so loving and kind that He never would judge anyone?”
The problem is that God is holy, and we are sinful, which means that we cannot be in God’s presence until our sins are all forgiven, and we are reconciled to Him. Note the testimony of Scripture: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” Habakkuk 1.13.
How many of us are sinners? The Epistle to the Romans gives the answer: “For all have sinned” Romans 3.23; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Romans 5.12.
How can sinful people have a righteous standing before God? The answer is found in the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” 1Peter 2.24. Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, taught that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53.5.
How many of us are sinners? The Epistle to the Romans gives the answer: “For all have sinned” Romans 3.23; “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Romans 5.12.
How can sinful people have a righteous standing before God? The answer is found in the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” 1Peter 2.24. Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, taught that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53.5.
- He took the guilty sinner’s place, and suffered in his stead;
- For man (O miracle of grace!), for man the Saviour bled.
As this article concludes, please note the solemn comparisons of the following meetings. For the Christian believer: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” 1Thessalonians 4.17. For the unbeliever: “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming” Isaiah 14.9.
Dear reader, which meeting will you attend?
Written for FTMP by a Guest Blogger (Assembly Testimony)
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