Dear Pacific Union Member:

One day, Jesus will come back as He promised. So my question for you is simply this: If you knew he would return on March 1, 2004, would anything in your thoughts and lifestyle need to change? Would the top 10 priorities in your life still be the same? How would you use your money and time? I think you get my point. Since any day could be our last, why do we live differently than we would if we knew this was our last day? Or if we knew for sure Jesus would come on a certain day only weeks away, why would that change things for us?

Successful Strategies

One of the most successful strategies the devil uses to keep us out of heaven is known as “Do it tomorrow.” With no sense of urgency, good intentions drift over into another day, get pushed to a more convenient occasion and usually don't end up happening at all. Each time we go through this cycle, the devil wins another round. If we play the game long enough, we end up lost, even though we fully intended to be in heaven.

Another strategy of Satan trapping a growing number of my friends is the thinking that says, "All I need do is give my life to Jesus, and He will do the rest, no matter how I live my life." But God is clear:

“Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy” (1 Peter 1:14,15, NLT).

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself. For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like” (James 1:21-24, NLT).

“And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If someone says, 'I belong to God,' but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God's word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him” (1 John 2:3-5, NLT).

There is God’s part in our salvation and our part. It takes my desire and cooperation to become a candidate for heaven. Salvation is a free gift, available to anyone. But God will not take to His kingdom those who live in rebellion against Him. That attitude caused Him to cast a third of His angels out when sin first erupted. Don’t think for a moment that rebellion against God’s thinking will somehow be overlooked in the group taken to heaven at the second coming—even if we plan to change in the future.

Serious Changes Needed

Take a look at your life right now. Are you just drifting along in your relationship with Jesus, or are you and He becoming closer friends? You know if it’s happening, and in your inmost thoughts you know if that is the most important thing in life.

Most of us need to be far more serious about spiritual things. Please don’t put off doing something about ungodly thoughts and actions that are still in your life. Today could be your last day, so don’t live with the thought, “I'll do something about changing later.” Of all the things that are part of your life, nothing is more important than preparing for heaven.

Sincerely your friend,

Tom Mostert, Jr., President

Pacific Union Conference

P.O. Box 5005

Westlake Village, CA 91359