It's Not Over 'Til It's Over

A man on death row. 72 hours to live. The Innocence Project. The race for evidence, witness statements, lab tests...Anything to get a stay of execution. It's a classic crime show plot based on a very serious, real life situation. Ultimately, someone wants to fight the death sentence to the bitter end and someone wants to accept the "inevitable".
 
The "inevitable"? If the "inevitable" is only three days away, why wouldn't you do anything and everything in your power to save the accused?!!! How could the stress or potential disappointments of the emergency investigation possibly be worse than the aftermath of the execution? In my opinion, IT'S NOT OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER!
 
This is how God feels about people. It's not over 'til it's over. Listen to this:

 

"One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, 'So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!'

But the other criminal protested, 'Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?  We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.'  Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.'

 And Jesus replied, 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" 

Luke 23:39-43 NLT

 

This criminal was being crucified next to Jesus.  This man was dying with only hours left to live.  AND HE WAS GUILTY!!! But when this dying criminal asked, Jesus instantly guaranteed him heaven. 

 



This is how God feels about everyone. We are all guilty of disobeying God (Romans 3:23). But God's forgiveness is free to anyone who asks for it, any time.  You can ask on your fourth birthday or the second before you die. No matter who you are or how bad you are. 

“he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Death is inevitable. But it's not over 'til it's over.
(So stop making jokes about Hell because it's real, it's coming and you don't have to go there. It's a terrifying reality and it's NOT inevitable!!!)