Wake Up Call by Jolene Eller

A few years ago, I received a phone call from my mother to tell me that my brother had been involved in a car accident. He was on his way home from work when a car pulled out in front of him. He was unable to stop and broadsided the car. The two passengers in the car were killed instantly. Thankfully, my brother physically was fine, but emotionally and mentally not so good. He continued to replay the accident in his mind. Unfortunately, the passengers were the mother and nephew of a coworker at the time. I can't comprehend the guilt he must have felt seeing him each day.

I'm thankful he wasn't killed as I don't know if he'd be in heaven or not. I know he went forward at an altar call as a child yet he doesn't show any evidence of Christ being in his life.

I'm puzzled as I see people who I thought were "saved" get swallowed up in the world, to never return to the Lord. Were they ever truly saved? Only God knows.

The sad part, many believe they are "good" people as they go to church on Easter and Christmas and maybe every Sunday. They may even teach Sunday School. They are involved in charities. They volunteer when a disaster hits. They have decent morals and values, yet they don't have that personal relationship with the Lord. Jesus states in John 3:3, "No one can see the kingdom of God unless He is born again." Born again meaning to be born anew. The new birth or regeneration is the act of God that gives eternal life to the one who believes in Christ. As a result, he becomes a member of God's family. In John 6:39 it is the Father's will to present those who come to Christ. "And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up the last day." John 10:28 states "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish no one can snatch them out of my hand." So "once saved, always saved?" Where do those stand who were "saved" at one time yet show no evidence now? What comes to mind is the parable of the sower  in Matthew 13. He plants seeds in different places. Only one forms a root and grows. The rest all die. Verses 19-23 "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once received it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Now I can't explain my brother and what happened. But I believe this was a wake up call from God as now my brother saw how quickly a life can be taken. If you were in that car that got broadsided and you died instantly, where would you find yourself? In Heaven? Or in Hell? Is this God's wake up call to you? If you're not sure where you would be, then maybe it's time to give control of your life to the Lord. Say this prayer, "Lord, I know I'm a sinner. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and I know that if I ask you to forgive me you will. Please come into my life and have control. I thank you for loving me and give my life to you. Help me get to know you Lord. Amen. If you said that prayer, THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN ARE HAVING A MASSIVE PARTY!! ? If you don't have a Bible, I encourage you to go and buy one. Start reading John. It's the fourth book in the New Testament. You will see there how much God loves you and that He died just for you. If you were the only person in this world, He still would have died for you. That's how much He loves you. You'll never have a more awesome relationship than with the Lord!!! Is it time to wake up?

Lord, I pray for those who need to wake up spiritually. May they see their need for you and give you control of their life. Open their eyes and break the chains that bind them. If they have accepted you as their Savior, protect that seed so it may grow as a mustard seed, with a deep root so that they are grounded in you!!!