This week, HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama, The Leftovers, returned for its third and final season. The series, based on a novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, takes place in two small towns a few years after a rapture-like event in which 140 million people vanish from the earth. In the aftermath of the “Sudden Disappearance,” some people strive to return to normal despite the loss that they have experienced. Others turn to religious cults, an abundance of which pop up in the aftermath, in order to make sense of the world. Notable among these cults are the “Guilty Remnant” who always wear white and exist to repeatedly remind the world of the fact that they were left behind, or in the show’s cheeky terminology, “the leftovers.” Others spend their time trying to figure out if a new Jesus-like figure is coming and who he is if he has in fact already arrived.
The Leftovers is one of the latest products of our culture’s obsession with the apocalypse, the end times, and the possibilities of how the world — and humanity may end. While much of what the Bible predicts will happen in the end times is subject to debate, the Bible does tell us that the beginning of the end will be marked by an event called the Rapture, in which all believers in Jesus Christ will be taken from this earth to Heaven to be with God. No doubt, after the Rapture, the world will see much of what takes place in The Leftovers — people trying to cope, trying to go back to normal, turning to religion for understanding, or searching for a messiah to save them. It will be a dark time for the world. And many will soon realize that those who were taken will indeed be better off.
If the Rapture were to occur today — and the Bible teaches that it can take place at any time — would you be ready? Would you be one of the taken or one of the leftovers? Would you be one of those at home in Heaven with God or one of those left behind struggling to understand what happened?
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you are not ready. I am going to show you how you can trust Christ as your Saviour so that you will not be left behind.
First, you must realize and admit that you are a sinner and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: “For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Romans 3:23 reads: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” In fact, I am the chief of sinners, so don’t think that you’re alone.
Second, you must understand that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…” This is both spiritual death and physical death. We die physically and go to the grave because of sin and we die spiritually and go to hell because of sin.
Third, you must understand that you are on the road to hell because of your sins. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Fourth, you must accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Fifth, you must accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Because of God’s love for you, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for your sin. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Because God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, we can live with God in Heaven for all eternity after we die.
Finally, with these facts in mind, you must repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me the following simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour!
Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You!
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 