This week was the deadline for filing your taxes. April 15th is a time of discouragement for some. It is a time of gathering together all of your information needed to show your earnings and your deductions. Sometimes we have to search for items that we know are needed. Sometimes we find them and at others, we have trouble. We may have to contact someone in order to achieve them.

There are a couple of things I would like to share with you about this. First, there are deadlines that have to be met. Whether it is taxes, time for a job to be done, or whatever, there are deadlines. In the spiritual world, there are deadlines also. There is coming a day when Jesus will return. At that time, the deadline is here. There will be no more opportunities for anyone. If you have not made the proper preparation, then you will be lost, eternally. Matthew 25:31-46 describes that time. Those who have heard and obeyed God, will live with Him. Those who have not, will be destroyed for eternity. What a horrific thought. Are you ready for this deadline to come?

When we need more time to find information for our taxes, we can file an extension. When Jesus comes, there will be no extension. The Hebrew writer informs us, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 NASB). There will be no more time or extensions. What urgency!

A second thing we learn is, to keep good records. If you can’t find something you need, you will lose money. You could have to pay more than you deserve. How are you at record keeping? I hope well, unless…

You are keeping records of wrongs suffered. Some people, sadly, carry horrible grudges. Their lives are miserable because they can’t let go and forgive. Therefore, they write down (sometimes literally), each mistake or word another states. It was our brother Paul who said, "...love keeps no records of wrongs." Wow! Maybe we all need to work on this area in our lives.

Keeping records for our taxes are important. Keeping records of wrongs suffered, aren’t. And, if we do keep records of wrongs and lose that love for everyone, when the deadline gets here (Jesus comes), we have nothing to look forward to.

Are you ready for Jesus? In 1 Thess. 4:11 Paul describes Jesus’ coming. He’s keeping a record of all the faithful. Is that you?