Terminating the Path to Salvation

Is there ever a time in our life when it is too late to be saved? Is there a line a person crosses which closes the way to salvation? The Scripture tells us the answer to both questions is yes. The Bible contains a warning against all who reject Jesus Christ and receive the mark of the Antichrist during the Tribulation. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Those who embrace the lies of the Antichrist are tricked and deceived by his wonders and have no chance to be saved. There is no turning back from that unfortunate decision. It’s irreversible and irrevocable. Revelation 14:9-11: “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.’” You might be saying this has nothing to do with me; no one knows when the Tribulation will begin. True enough. But, what about now? It’s clear from the Scripture that if a person dies without accepting Christ as Savior from sin, it’s too late for that person to be saved. Consider this, none of us can know our appointed time of death; and there is no second chance for salvation after death. As the saying goes, “As death finds you, eternity keeps you”. You see, for us, it’s still easy to ask and receive Christ; however, in the Tribulation accepting Jesus and refusing the mark of the beast results in persecution and death. The Scripture stresses the urgency to respond to the call of the gospel. 2 Corinthians 6:2: “For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.” If it is next week, next month, next year, or in the Tribulation, death is fast approaching all of us. Ask Jesus for forgiveness before it’s too late. God will welcome you home with open arms when that time comes.