One night Diane Sawyer was interviewing Billy Graham on ABC News. She asked the question, “Billy, when you die, how do you want people to remember you?” Billy said, “I don’t know what people will think of me, but what I’d really like is to hear the Lord say to me when I get to Heaven, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’” Then he paused and looked at her and said, “But I don’t think that He will.”²

We would think that if anyone was going to hear this statement from God, it would be Billy Graham. But what I think Dr. Graham meant was that while what we do for God is important, loving God for who he is is considerably more important and significant that what we do for God.

I don’t know who first coined the phrase/s, “Living with the end in mind” and “Living life backwards.” But the idea is that if what we want said of us at the end of life’s journey—especially by God when we stand before him face to face—we need to clearly define our God-given life purpose today. And then we need to start living now to ensure that we fulfill this purpose. That is, we need to live life with the end of it in mind.

So my question to you, Dear Reader, is this: “When you die, how do you want people to remember you and what do you want God to say to you?”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to clearly define my God-given life purpose and what I want to hear you say to me when I die—and help me to start living today with this end in mind. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

Note: If you are not sure of your eternal situation, be sure to read the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9.

1. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).
2. Dr. John Ankerberg, http://tinyurl.com/2x3kxp

Alton Gansky, in his book, 40 Days, talks about Harry Houdini who “made a name for himself by escaping from every imaginable confinement—from straightjackets to multiple pairs of handcuffs clamped to his arms. He boasted that no jail cell could hold him. Time and again, he would be locked in a cell only to reappear minutes later.”

It worked almost every time. “He accepted another invitation to demonstrate his skill. He entered the cell, wearing his street clothes, and the jail cell door shut. Once alone, he pulled a thin but strong piece of metal from his belt and began working the lock. But something was wrong. No matter how hard Houdini worked, he couldn’t unlock the lock. For two hours he applied skill and experience to the lock but failed time and time again. Two hours later he gave up in frustration.”²

The problem? The door wasn’t locked. All he needed to do was push on it and it would have opened for him.

Now isn’t that just like so many people who believe they have to earn their way into heaven through their own efforts or some man-made religion when all they need to do is believe in what God’s Word, the Bible, teaches; that is, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay the penalty for all their sins, and in all sincerity confess their sinfulness to God, ask for his forgiveness, and accept his free gift of eternal life—and repent of their sinful ways and ask God for his help to live in harmony with his will.

For help to accept God’s invitation to accept His gift of forgiveness and eternal life go to: http://tinyurl.com/6k49w

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You that there is absolutely nothing for me to do to enter your Heaven except to admit that I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all my sins, and to ask for and accept Your forgiveness and gift of eternal life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV).
2. Source: Preaching Now, Vol. 6, No. 20, http://www.preaching.com/newsletter/

Jesus, of course, was talking about coming back to get His followers to take them to be with Him in Heaven.

Jesus’s first coming is an indisputable fact of history. His second coming is just as certain. What isn’t certain is the date of His coming. Over the years many have tried to predict that date and have fallen flat on their face. Only God knows that day.

Others have accused us Christians of being so over heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use. True, some people are this way, but that is when they use their religion as an escape from or defense against facing their own reality.

I appreciate what David Shibley wrote: “Remember a ‘heavenly minded’ Wilberforce whose passion for human dignity helped eradicate the slave trade throughout the British empire. Go to the inner city of Chicago and watch the tireless workers at the Pacific Garden Mission as they tell inquiring street people how to get to heaven while providing them food and shelter on the way. Scan the world and look at the thousands of hospitals, shelters, leprosariums, children’s homes and colleges that have been built in heaven’s honor. The point is obvious. Those who truly set their sights on another world are often the most active for constructive change in this one.

As C.S. Lewis suggested, it is when we cease to think of the other world (Heaven) we become ineffective in this one.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, as Jesus taught us to pray, may Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. And help me, while here on earth, to be a part of Your plans and what You are doing in the world today. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

NOTE: If you are not sure that you are going to Heaven, be sure to get your “Passport for Heaven” at: http://tinyurl.com/dm472. Whatever you do, don’t leave earth without it.

1. Jesus (John 14:1-3, NIV).

After Jesus said these words He went on to say, “This, then, is how you should pray…” and He taught them the Lord’s prayer—a prayer that has only 66 words!

I have read that the Gettysburg Address has only 286 words. The Declaration of Independence has 1,322 and the government regulations on the sale of cabbage has 26,911 words!

The point that Jesus is making (when we pray) is that we need to get to the point—and not use empty, vain repetitious words that come only from the top of our head and not from the heart.

It’s the meaning of the heart that God wants to hear—which, of course, is the heart of all meaningful, intimate communications—with God or man. As the simple ditty expresses it:

I often say my prayers,
But do I really pray,
And does the meaning of my heart
Go with the words I say.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me when I pray to share with You what my heart is saying and what I am truly feeling—good or bad—and in so doing be ruthlessly honest with myself and with You. Always. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Jesus (Matthew 6:7-8, NIV).

A friend of Joy’s was running in a marathon who, when about half-way through the race, was asked by an exhausted fellow marathoner, who was gasping for breath, “Are we there yet? I’m done!”

I’ve never run in a marathon, but in younger days I used to enjoy hiking on foot on mountain trails. The longest hike was a day-long 32 mile round trip. My legs ached; my feet hurt, and I kept asking myself, “How much further do I have to go?”

I also rode a mountain bike for many years and know what it is like to be exhausted long before the finishing point. Yes, I’d stop and rest, but found that, like many a runner, if I just kept hanging in and plugging away, eventually I got what the runners call “a second breath,” and was able to make it to the end, that, on my mountain bike was usually home.

Sometimes life can be like that. I’ve been there. You are so emotionally exhausted and physically weary, you feel like giving up. If you are there now, or should the time ever come, remember the words of John Greenleaf Whittier:

Most important of all, when it comes to winning over life’s tough trials, the key to triumph is to trust your circumstances and your life implicitly to God. Suggested by a minister friend, I started making this commitment in my youth and have renewed it in prayer every morning. Some six decades later as I look back over the ups and downs of life—the good times and the bad, the successes and failures—I can confidently say that by the grace of God, I have triumphed only because God has led me every step of the way, and for this I will be eternally grateful.

I strongly encourage you, Dear Reader, to also make the following prayer commitment every morning for the rest of your life:

“Dear God, afresh today I commit and trust my life and way to You. Please help me to become the man/woman of God that You envision for me to become. Please be with me in everything I do. Greatly expand my Christian borders, and keep me from all evil, harm and disaster. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV).

I have read that on one occasion talk show host, Larry King, asked Bill Gates of Microsoft fame what his secret of success was. Gates answered, “I was in the right place at the right time. I caught the vision of where the computer industry was going. And I took action.”

This was also true of Abraham’s servant when Abraham sent him on a mission to find a wife for his (Abraham’s) son, Isaac. The servant committed his task to the Lord, sought His guidance, took action and “got going.” As he did his part, God did His and led him to the perfect bride. As the servant put it, “I being in the way, the Lord led me.”

Somebody with tongue-in-cheek said, “There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree. You can sit on an acorn and wait or you can climb to the top of the tree.”

God has a plan and purpose for the life of every one of us. It’s our responsibility to seek God and discover what that plan is. And then, we can sit on “the acorn” and wait for that purpose to be fulfilled or we can take action and get going. True, there are times when we need to wait on the Lord to discover His purpose, but once we know what it is, it’s up to us to take action. As we are in the way, God will lead us too—just as He led Abraham’s servant so long ago.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank You for having a plan and purpose for my life. Help me to discover what it is, and take action. May I also be able to say, ‘I being in the way, the LORD led me!’ Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24:27).

In response to a Daily Encounter on the subject of discovering one’s God-given life purpose, a subscriber whom I shall name “Janet” (not her real name) e-mailed me, saying, “I am disabled. I can’t drive and am homebound. I can barely take care of myself; so what can my purpose be? I have multiple fractures of my spine and could go on with all my surgeries. What can I even begin to do?” Following is my reply:

“Dear Janet, I am very saddened to hear of your condition. This has to be a terrible challenge. However, here is a possible suggestion. Because you have an e-mail address and can at least send e-mail messages, tell God that you are available for Him to use and ask Him to use you to be an encourager of others via sending positive e-mail messages, or to give you a ministry using your computer and e-mail. Also, you could have a wonderful prayer ministry and be greatly used by God in this area.

“For simple and practical ideas that you could use in a personal ministry, please check out this website at: https://learning.actsweb.org/people_power_invite.php. God could certainly use you in this ministry as a People Power for Jesus Partner to reach others with the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Here is a suggested prayer that you could pray at the beginning of every day: “Dear God, today I commit and trust my life and way to you. Oh that you would bless me wonderfully. Please be with me in everything I do. Greatly expand my Christian borders, and keep me from all evil, harm and disaster. Also, I am available again today. Please make me usable and use me to be an effective witness for Jesus and to be ‘as Jesus’ in some way to every life I have contact with, whether it be in person, through an email, a letter, or via the telephone. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name. Amen.”

I have been praying this prayer every morning since my youth, and plan on praying it every morning for the rest of my life. Nobody is more amazed than I am in how God has faithfully answered this prayer over so many years. If you will make yourself available to God for Him to use and genuinely want Him so to do, I can guarantee that God will use you to be a wonderful blessing to the lives you touch.

When God called Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Moses didn’t know how he was going to do the job; so God simply told him to use what he had in his hand. That’s how God uses each one of us … He calls us to use what He has already given to us and what we already have.

My suggested prayer for today, for every Daily Encounter subscriber, is the prayer that I suggested for Janet to pray.

1. Exodus 4:2 (NKJV).

On a recent Saturday night Joy and I were enjoying listening to gospel music and heard the Oakridge Boys singing; “Did I Make a Difference?” The lyrics were tremendously challenging. Following are some of these:

“I’m caught up in the push and shove / The daily grind, burning time, spinning wheels / I wonder what I’m doing here / Day to day, year to year, standing still …

I can’t help but ask myself when I lay down at night:

“Did I make a difference in somebody’s life? / What hurts did I heal? What wrongs did I right? / Did I raise my voice in defense of the truth? / Did I lend my hand to the destitute? / When my race is run, when my song is sung / Will I have to wonder, did I make a difference? / Did I make a difference?”

The good news is that you and I, especially working together, can make a tremendous difference. Every weekday of the year, via Daily Encounter, ACTS is communicating a message from God’s Word, including the gospel, to well over a third-of-a-million worldwide subscribers. Thousands more are being reached via ACTS web pages and Weekend Encounter. As the stats show, on average, people from 194 countries and territories visit ACTS web pages every month! Best of all, since going online in 1998, ACTS has received 41,000+ salvation and re-commitment to Jesus Christ decision responses from 168 countries that we know about.

You, too, can have a vital part in this ministry and help make a difference in countless lives for all eternity. You can do this by (1) joining with us as an ACTS Prayer Partner, (2) as a People Power for Jesus Partner, or (3) as an ACTS financial supporter.

First, If you would like to be an ACTS Prayer Partner committing to pray regularly for ACTS Daily Encounter and ACTS daily gospel outreach ministry, please sign up at: https://learning.actsweb.org/subscribe.php, or email me and tell me you would like to be an ACTS Prayer Partner.

Second, if you have an email address, you can become a missionary right from your own home by becoming a People Power for Jesus Partner. It is very simple, doesn’t cost a single cent or penny, and can help reach any friend, family member, or contact for Christ via the email and Internet. For more information go to: https://learning.actsweb.org/people_power_invite.php.

Third, another vital way you can help make a major difference in hundreds of lives is by becoming a monthly Financial Supporter of ACTS gospel ministries. In the past year we lost 50% of our monthly supporters. These supporters badly need to be replaced because it is the ACTS financial supporters who make all of ACTS gospel outreach ministries possible. You can sign up to be a monthly supporter, or send a one-time donation on ACTS secure donor site at: https://actscom.com/donate.php.

Will YOU make a difference with your life? With God’s help you can!

When you and I stand before Jesus to give an account of our life, may we both hear His welcoming words: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I dedicate my life afresh to You today as I want my life to make a difference. Please use me in whatever way You choose to be a part of what You are doing in the world today to help win lost souls to Jesus. Please lead me in the way I should go and show me exactly what I can and should do. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NKJV).

We have on more than one occasion emphasized the fact that confession is needed for the healing of many sicknesses. It is also needed for spiritual and emotional healing. However, keep in mind that “confession without repentance is a game.”

True repentance not only includes godly sorrow for the wrongs we have done, but literally means to turn around and go the opposite way. That is, with God’s help, we need to determine to stop committing the sins we confess.

Realize, too, that some (if not many) outward acts of sin are the “fruit of a deeper root.” That is, the obvious act of sin is the symptom of a deeper sin. And, as Cecil Osborne pointed out, “When we are hiding a deeper sin or fault, we confess a lesser one all the more vigorously.”

For instance, a critical, negative person is an angry person. If he is going to stop criticizing people, he also needs to confess and resolve his anger. A control freak is a very insecure person. To overcome her problem, she needs to confess and get help to resolve her insecurity. A man who lashes out and hurts the opposite sex (or uses them for sex) is more likely than not to have unresolved issues with his mother and is angry at her. He needs to confess not only his obvious sin against women, but also to admit, confess and resolve his issues with his mother. It’s the same with a woman who has unresolved issues with her father and is acting this out sexually. We either confess and talk out these issues in creative ways or we inevitably act them out in self-destructive and sinful ways.

Thus, true confession and genuine repentance require that we be personally honest, or, as David put it, without deceit in our spirit. That is, we are not living in denial. In other words, we need to see, admit, and confess not only our external acts of sins (the obvious ones), but also the deeper and often hidden “sins of the spirit” that cause us to act out in self-destructive and sinful ways. Without doing this, genuine repentance isn’t possible, because as long as we fail to confess and resolve our inner sins, we will continue to act them out in one destructive sinful way or another.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to see, admit and confess any deeper unresolved issue I may have that causes me to be sick or act out in sinful ways. Lead me to find the help I need to overcome these so my confession with repentance can and will be genuine. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Psalm 32:1-2 (NIV).

In an issue of Our Daily Bread I read about Mark and Alice Westlind who are missionaries in Colombia. In one of their monthly letters they wrote the following:

“Driving through Christmas traffic, fighting the drizzling rain, I chanced on a 4-year-old little girl. She was wet and cold and shaking. Her clothes were ragged, her hair was matted, and her nose was running. She walked between the cars at the stoplight, washing headlights because she was too short to wash windshields. A few gave her coins, others honked at her to get away from their vehicles.

“As I drove away only some 50 cents poorer, I raged at God for the injustice in the world that allowed the situation. ‘God, how could you just stand by, helpless?’

“Later that evening, God came to me softly with that still small voice and responded not in like kind to my rage, but with tenderness, ‘I have done something. I created you.’”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me a grateful heart for all the blessings and provisions You have so freely given to me. And give me a compassionate heart so that I will always share what I have with the poor and those who are genuinely in need—and are not in a position to be able to help themselves. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’s name, amen.”

1. Galatians 2:10.