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With a nod of the head, the chute flies open and the ride begins. Some compare life to a ride. The picture of the rider on the front cover is Ashley Focht. The chute of life opened for him on February 27, 1981. He had a lifetime ahead of him. A lifetime seems like a long time, just as 8 seconds can seem like a long time when you are on a 1500-pound bucking bull. Truth of the matter is, 8 seconds is only a fraction of a minute, and according to the Bible, our life is like “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). On August 28, 2004, at 23 years of age, Ashley was killed in a motor vehicle accident. The buzzer sounded and his ride was done. There would be no re-ride. You see, we never know just how long we will ride this life, so we should never wait for tomorrow. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Every rider knows when the ride is done, you must face the judge. When our ride in life is done, we will also stand before the Almighty Judge. The difference is that even though you can practice and get good enough to earn a perfect score in bull riding, you will never be good enough to earn your way to heaven. We may think of ourselves as a good person, but that is compared to other people. God does not judge by man’s standards. You see, the Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10). Contrary to popular belief, you won’t go to heaven because you are a good person. You are human and because of that you will sin in life. We are told “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It is not God’s will for us to go to hell. “The Lord is … not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God loved us so much that He sent His son to die on the cross and pay for our sins. He tells us, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). This does not mean to just believe that He exists. The Bible says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble” (James 2:19). There is a difference between believing and receiving. You must confess to God that you are a sinner, believe that He sent His son to die on the cross to pay for your sins, and accept the free gift of salvation. We are told to repent, which means to recognize that your way doesn’t work, and to turn from your way to God’s way. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

If this were the world finals and you had a bull that you were guaranteed to ride and get the winning score, you would not hesitate to accept that opportunity. Your choice to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior is the most important decision you will make in life and will determine your eternal destination. Please don’t hesitate to make this choice—your buzzer could sound yet today!

Meet us at The Gate

When we were but children,
we’d play and ride all day
but sometimes when we headed home,
you’d have to go your own way.

You would take off quickly,
we’d holler, “Ashley wait!”
But you’d just keep on going,
and meet us at the gate.

Now once again you’ve gone ahead,
though we’d wished you would wait
but that’s okay, we know where you are—
just meet us at the gate.

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