Day 104 - What If I Believe in Aliens?

"What if I believe in Aliens," Ron asked sincerely. How would you answer?

Ron sat on a bench outside the courthouse, smoking a cigarette and waiting for a friend. I walked up and handed him a gospel tract. I asked if he had received one. No, he said. It's a gospel tract, I responded. Do you have a church background, I asked, striking up a friendly conversation. Not really, Ron responded. He said that while he was in prison he had read a lot of books. He used to believe there was a heaven and hell but now he's not so sure. He suggested maybe our eternal destiny will hinge on what we believe, adding that if he believes he's going to heaven then maybe he will. He then said that he had read that maybe aliens had placed us here. What if I believe that, he asked, wanting to know if that would be of any help in deciding his fate.

What you believe will determine your eternal destiny, I answered, but your destiny may not turn out to be what you believe. He gave me a puzzled look. If you believe the truth, I answered, then your destiny will be heaven, but if you believe a lie, then your fate won't be so great. Pointing to the building next door, I explained to Ron that the mere fact that I believe I can fly will not change the truth of reality, which is that I will fall to my gruesome death on the pavement below if I act on that false belief and violate the law of gravity. In the same way, I explained, a false belief in aliens will not save you from the judgment to come for having violated the law of a holy and living God who will judge all men according to His perfect moral standard (Ec. 12:13-14; Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10). He got it and shook his head in agreement.

I added that he can trust that the bible is true because there is clear and convincing evidence establishing its supernatural origin, authenticity, and reliability. I shared with Ron that one of the most powerful evidences of the truth of the bible is our God-given conscience. I walked Ron through God's law to point out the work of the law on the heart and conscience to bring us to conviction and Godly sorrow that leads to repentance.

Ron honestly admitted that he lied in violation of the 9th commandment, stolen in violation of the 8th, blasphemed in violation of the 3rd, lusted adulterously in violation of the 7th, and harbored anger and hatred in violation of the 6th. Ron acknowledged that if he were to die today and stand before God in judgment, he would be found guilty. He was truly concerned that his eternal destiny would rightfully be hell, where Jesus said the fire is never quenched and the flesh never dies. He understood that a holy God must condemn the wicked to their just punishment or else He would be an evil and corrupt God.

I then explained the good news of the gospel to Ron. He understood that he needed to repent and trust in Jesus alone for salvation. I asked him if he had ever repented and trusted in Christ. No, he said. I haven't.

He then asked if it were possible to be a "deathbed convert." I told Ron that he could repent and trust in Jesus at any time in this life, now or on his deathbed. I explained to him, though, that the big problem with hoping to be a deathbed convert is that he will NEVER know when his last day will be. He will NEVER know if he will have a chance to repent on his deathbed. You could breath your last breath today while you least expect it, I warned Ron. I urged Ron not to delay and to repent and trust Christ and follow him while he still has time left. I asked Ron when he was going to repent and trust Christ. I don't know, he replied grimly. I left Ron by urging him one last time to act while he still can. I thanked Ron for his time, told him it was great to meet him and speak with him, and blessed him in Jesus' name. I pray he turned to the Lord once and for all today and, if he didn't, that he will before it's too late.