A few days ago I watched a brief portion of a news magazine TV program where death row inmates were interviewed.  Each man was fully aware of the date and the hour of his execution, and each was within two weeks of that fateful day.  Each was asked what it was like to know the day and the hour of death, and what was going through their minds in their final days on earth.

One man seemed content.  He took full responsibility for the crime he committed, seemed genuinely repentant, and was satisfied not to drag victims or his family through further appeals when the truth was that he was guilty.  He indicated that he had “learned to accept Jesus in my life.”

A second man was very afraid.  Once his date with death was issued, he could not sleep, he awoke in night sweats, and had terrible dreams of his execution.

A third man blamed someone else for his imprisonment.  Rather than await his fateful day, he desired to “take a pill right here in front of you” and be done with it.  He was without hope.  When asked what he thought about during these days, he said he wanted to “get things straight with the man upstairs,” and that he hoped “St Peter would let him in the gates”…though he was not confident that would happen.

Each of these men knew to the day and hour when his life would end.  The first wanted to “make a difference.”  The second was too fearful to do much of anything.  The third was non-repentant, but still hoping for favor at heaven’s gate.

What about you?  If you knew the specific day and hour that your life would end, would your final days on earth look different than they do right now?  It’s a sobering question, isn’t it?  Yet it is a question we all should ask continually.

If you are a Christian, I hope you are like the first man.  Romans 3:23 tells us that we are all sinners, and we are liars if we say we have no sin (1 John 1:8).  Our “crimes” (sin) may be different than those of these men, but we are just as guilty. However, God loves us so much that He gave His only son to die for our sins (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21) so that we might have eternal life and be saved from eternal judgment (John 5:24).  Like the first man, we have reason to “make a difference.”  Do our lives exemplify the life of Jesus to others?  We have the antidote to death…are we sharing it with lost and dying friends and family?

Perhaps you are like the second man, fearful of death and “what’s on the other side.”  Or maybe even like the third man, blaming someone (even yourself) or something else for your troubles in life.  Well, friend, I have great news!  Jesus Christ not only takes away our fears (Matthew 10:28-33), but He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Regardless of how “good” or “bad” you might be, and regardless of what you have done or not done, Jesus invites you to come to Him just as you are.  These men knew the day they would take their last breath.  Most of us will never know that.  But what we DO know is that everyone will face death, and it could literally happen at any time.

We also know that Jesus Christ is coming again to redeem us from death and sin, and for those who confess Him as Lord, He will take us to heaven to live forever.  (John 14:1-3)  But there is only one way, and that way is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  He is our Blessed Hope!

In their last days on earth, each inmate contemplated heaven or hell.  What would occupy your thoughts if you knew death was soon to come?  Don’t let another fearful day go by without knowing where you will spend eternity.

Click here to learn how to know Jesus Christ and follow Him.