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This week's article is from my husband. Enjoy!

Recently we have been updating our Michigan cottage into a “Lake Home”, and that of course mandated the installation of a new furnace since the existing was over 30 years old and did not work. Through a set of keen circumstances God put a local heating and AC man in my path and we struck a deal on a newly 95% efficient heating system.

I always believe the Lord puts new folks into our lives for a reason and for me the reason is to make sure they have the truth about God and the Bible. With that said, I worked with this man for about two weeks getting to know him and offer any hospitality, help, or anything else as he installed our new furnace. At the completion of this installation I had the opportunity to ride with him to Toledo and back which gave us a couple of hours to really get to know one another.

During this time he shared with me his life’s story and I must say it was a tough one. That’s when the compassion swelled up in me as I asked him a very important question “Where do you think you will end up when this life is over”?

He responded, “I hope heaven, because of all the heartache I have been through here on earth”.

I came back with, “So if people have heartache or a tough life here on earth, they get heaven as a reward?”

Innocently he responded with, “Yea, that’s what I think”.

That's when I boldly asked him, “Then is your name written in the Book of Life?”

He then looked at me wide-eyed and exclaimed, “What’s that?”

I asked him if he believed in the Bible and that it is God’s Word to man. He affirmed that to me, which opened the door to share with him Revelation 20:15: And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (NASB). I then asked him if he understood what that meant and he replied “Not really, but it sure doesn’t sound good”. At that point I knew he realized he didn’t know if his name was in it or not. So I said, “If you don’t know, it’s probably not.” However, I did not leave him hanging as I told him exactly how he can know for sure how to get his name written down in this very important book.

I pray just about every day for this man to come to that simple, but yet so difficult decision, and invite Jesus into his life. I am still in contact with him and try to encourage him each chance I get. I always wonder why this decision is so hard for some folks. Are they depending on what they have done to gain favor with God, or are they enjoying their life so much that they don’t want God a part of it? The bottom line is, when you stand before God at the moment of death the Book of Life will be opened. He will look to see if your name is in this Book. If not, I can guarantee you that you will respond the same way my friend did: “It doesn’t sound good”. Have you made YOUR reservation yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

Other references: Revelation 3:5,21:27 / Philippians 4:3 / Psalm 69:28

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

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