For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

A life sentence is usually associated with a prison term levied against some deserving criminal. In today’s Message of Hope, we’d like to consider two other kinds of “Life Sentences.”

In John Maxwell’s book, Leadership Gold, he introduces a second take on the meaning of a life sentence. In essence, he says when we take our final breath, people have a tendency to get practical using a snapshot to describe the quality of our lives; one that notes us in nugget form or in one “life sentence.” For examples, when it’s all said and done one might earn ….

• Tony was a fine family man.
• Naomi was a beloved mother.
• Melissa was an influential teacher.
• James was a funny guy.
• Abraham was a great leader.
• Linda was a faithful friend.
• Susan was a real entrepreneur.

And so on….

As we imagine what sort of “life sentence” we’d like to construct in our own life, there is a third type of life sentence to consider that is most profound. As a matter of fact, it’s the only one capable of inspiring even those incarcerated and serving a life sentence.

Just beyond our last breath we get to meet the perfect judge (God). He must be pleased with us beyond our earthly roles to grant us everlasting life. Amazingly, any earthly “life sentence” would be meaningless because we’d be faced with Life Himself, forever.

If you are open to the God who is after your heart, the One who wants a loving and intimate relationship with you, and the One who will come against the forces of evil on your behalf, then accept the following Biblical mandate: Jesus Christ is not a myth or a mere man. He is the revolutionary incarnate Son of God who changed the world by dying for our sins, rising from the dead, and now knocking at the door of our inner Spiritual heart to appreciate and love Him back, forever.

It’s never how we start only; it’s always how we finish that matters. The choice is ours (from the President of the United States to a lifer in the most secure prison) to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives and one day hear beyond man’s acclaim…God’s eternal LIFE SENTENCE: “Well done (Tony, Naomi, Melissa, James, Abraham, Linda or Susan or whoever) my good and faithful servant!”

May the Spirit of God arrest you, bless you, and keep you this week!

Jn 3:36; Jn 14:6; 1Jn 5:20; Matt 25:21